ARE COVID 19 TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS THE NEW SANCTIONS?

Yesterday as a curious international relation student I watched the interview between Citizen tv
host Jeff Koinange and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador
Macharia Kamau. A question popped into my mind is there anything behind the scenes that are
being pushed by countries that issue these travel bans or it's just a case of them being careful.

During the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kenyan government sent flowers to United
Kingdom Health workers who were facing difficulties in managing the ever-increasing infections
and citizens getting admitted to the hospital. That action received criticism from the local
citizens in Kenya. President Kenyatta during the Labour day celebration however defended that
move saying it will go a long way in fostering friendly relations between the two countries. In a
popular saying a friend in need is a friend indeed, Kenya anticipated that Britain will return the
goodwill shown by the Kenyan government but to their utter shock this never came to fruition.
Instead in a letter dated 2/04/2021 the United Kingdom added Kenya to its Coronavirus red list.
This caught the officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kenya with surprise considering
what they perceived to be having strong relations with their former colony.

This whole scenario points to Kenya as a victim. Kenyan Government has been allowing flights
from the United Kingdom despite the country witnessing an increase in the number of
coronavirus infections partly attributed to the coronavirus new strains. Various media outlets in
Kenya reported that the British Army camp located in Nanyuki Laikipia County was closed
indefinitely for two weeks due to fear that the British soldiers returning from Britain have
contracted the new Corona Virus Strain. On March 24th 2021 it was alleged that the British army
caused a fire in Loldaiga Conservancy. As usual, the information was only leaked through one of
the videos taken by a British soldier. We are not sure however if the Kenyan government and
British government through their higher commission had this information. If you look at all these
scenarios and then add up with what is going on with British healthcare such actions point out
double standards on part of the British government. Instead of repaying the goodwill extended to
them by the Kenyan government, they are doing the opposite
It is my opinion that if travel bans associated with Covid-19 are not well checked then powerful
counties may use them just like they use sanctions to gain an advantage over weaker states. The
British government should have used this opportunity to market itself in healthcare diplomacy
just like what China, Russia and India are doing by donating Covid-19 Vaccines to the third
world countries