Telephone: Fay: #28 20-318888, O6Q/341935/344333 Email: communicationdmfn go.ke Website: www.mfa go ke ‘When replying please quote Ref. No. and date HARAMBEE AVENUE, PO.Box 30551-00100 NAIROBLKENYA, FFAIRS ret. NMEA.REL, 13/27. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya presents its compliments to the British High Commission in Nairobi and has the honour to refer to the regrettable decision by Her Majesty's Government to list Kenya on its COVID-19 related “Red List", contained in the Note Verbale Ref. No. 405/21. This decision by Government of the United Kingdom to “Red List” Kenya and to stop all travel from Kenya for those resident in Kenya, and those transiting through Kenya, to the United Kingdom will have deep and far-reaching consequences on the Kenya-United Kingdom trade, travel, tourism, security cooperation among many other sectors. This decision is particularly disturbing in light of the fact that the United Kingdom and Kenya enjoy a strong and long-lasting relationship embedded in a strategic partnership that has multiple dimensions including health, education, security, travel, trade, and people to people relations. Kenya has been consistent in maintaining a positive stance towards the United Kingdom despite the challenges and disruptions imposed by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Kenya had remained in constant contact with the Government of the United Kingdom throughout this pandemic and most recently in the context of the unfortunate incidences of COVID-19 UK variant cases in Kenya and did so with utmost sensitivity to the Government and the people of the United Kingdom. The Government of the United Kingdom is also well aware that the COVID- 19 pandemic did not originate in Africa neither is it at its most prolific and deadly state within the African continent. Scanned with CamScannerIndeed, Kenya’s performance in managing, combating and containing the spread of COVID-19 has been singled out and lauded by many partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) as being exemplary and worthy of recognition and support. The third wave that Kenya is currently managing with stringent COVID-19 protocols and restrictions is an example of the sacrifice that Kenyans are willing to make to ensure that this disease does not spread in Kenya or anywhere else in the world for that matter. Kenya remains a responsible actor, nationally, regionally and globally. Kenya therefore expected that in building back better from this crisis the Government of the United Kingdom would have sought to reach out with solidarity and support rather than with punitive measures that are discriminatory, divisive and exclusive in their character. Regrettably, these measures have also been enacted without consultation with the Government of Kenya. The fact that there have been some travelers emanating from Nairobi that have allegedly tested positive of COVID-19 in London is not exclusive to Kenya, and in Kenya's opinion hardly justifies the red-listing of travelers from Kenya. What Kenya would have expected of a partner like the United Kingdom is to receive whatever evidence exists of these travelers and to work closely with the Government of Kenya to continue to manage the situation recognizing that the numbers from Kenya remain minimal in comparison to the scale of the pandemic in the United Kingdom. Moreover, as the United Kingdom is intimately aware, considering that it is one of Kenya’s key partners in efforts towards mitigating the impact of the pandemic; Kenya has put in place systems to ensure that the disease and its natural mutations are identified, tracked, managed and treated in the most proficient and determined manner of any country. Kenya has a genomic surveillance program and has been among Pthe first in Africa to identify variant strains including the highly virulent UK and South Scanned with CamScannerAfrican strains. The Government of the United Kingdom offers support to our surveillance system through the Welcome Trust KEMRI Kilifi facility. It is imperative not to lose sight of the fact that it was through the Kilifi Research Center, that the World Health Organization approved the Astra Zeneca vaccine trials that were conducted in collaboration with the Oxford University. These are now the vaccines that are widely used throughout the world including in the United Kingdom. Kenya has written through its High Commission in London, to seek further clarification on the Note Verbale Ref. No. 405/21 that was received in Nairobi indicating the terms of the red-listing Kenya. To date, Kenya has not received a response from the United Kingdom. Kenya remains of the opinion that in solidarity and in seeking to build back better from this pandemic, the Government of the United Kingdom would have offered support to Kenya through the provision of vaccines. This is further to Kenya's request that the United Kingdom shares vaccines which Kenya is aware that the United Kingdom has in bigger quantities than it is currently using. This is because Kenya believes that it is only through solidarity and collaborative partnership in responding to the crisis, that this pandemic can be brought to a close and the new normal allowed to emerge in its wake. However, in light of the decisions taken by the United Kingdom, Kenya has decided to undertake the following measures. 1. Asa direct reciprocal response to the measure indicated in the NV 405/21 all passenger flights, whether commercial or charter, between Kenya and the United Kingdom are suspended as of midnight 9 April 2021. 2. This suspension will be reviewed within 4 weeks. Scanned with CamScanner3. All cargo flights may continue without restriction, on the condition that all crew present a valid certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 and carry a valid COVID-19 negative PCR test certificate. 4, Moving forward, all passengers coming to Kenya from the United Kingdom must have a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate and a COVID-19 negative PCR test and must self-isolate on arrival for a period of seven days. 5. All UK citizens and residents traveling to Kenya from the UK, irrespective of their route of travel to Kenya and who do not have a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate, but who must nonetheless have a valid COVID-19 negative PCR test certificate, shall be subject to 14 days mandatory quarantine on arrival at a government facility at their own cost. 6. All travelers below the age of 18 will only require a certificate of COVID- 19 negative PCR tests to enter Kenya. 7. Kenyan citizens only require a certificate of COVID-19 negative PCR tests to travel. 8. All United Kingdom government officials and diplomats carrying official government travel documentation must have a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate and a valid COVID-19 negative PCR test certificate to enter Kenya. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the British High Commission in Nairobi the assurances of its highest consideration. Nairobi, 3" April 2021 British High Commission z NAIROBI Scanned with CamScanner