Kenyans with long-term Schengen visas have been exempted from the recent travel ban announced by the European Union (EU).
Only travelers from 15 countries have been cleared to travel to the 31 EU member countries, which began reopening their borders on Wednesday.
Kenya is not among the 15 countries that include the UK, Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, and Morocco. Others are New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay.
EU deemed the 15 nations ‘safe’ from Covid-19 pandemic based on various factors including their response to Covid-19, the ability to apply containment measures during travel, and whether they have lifted travel restrictions towards the EU.
But speaking to Business Daily on Friday, EU Ambassador to Kenya Simon Mordue said some Kenyans will be able to travel to Europe despite the ban.
“It is important to note that the EU borders are not closed for essential travel. This includes Kenyans who are long-term residents in the EU or who hold national long-term visas, as well as their respective family members,” Mordue explained.
Mordue noted that for a country to be cleared, it must show a projection of a decrease in Covid-19 cases which should not be more than EU’s 14-day average number of new infections per 100,000 people, currently at 16.
As of Friday, there were 7,188 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Kenya, 2,148 recoveries, and 154 deaths.
