| The U.S. government has revised its travel advisory against Kenya following a return to normalcy after post-election crisis which rocked the country early this year.
U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger who confirmed the downgrading of the travel advisories late Saturday clarified that Washington had not advised its citizens not to come to Kenya. The U.S. envoy said warnings and advisories about Kenya " contains factual information and does not recommend against travel to Kenya." He said the warning, which was issued at the wake of post- election violence which saw more than 1,000 people begin killed and 350,000 others displaced, had been revised downwards to reflect the restoration of peace and stability. "Such warnings and advisories are in effect for more than 40 countries around the world, most of whom are great friends of the United States," said Ranneberger at the August 7th Memorial Park which has now been turned into a commercial tourist site in remembrance of those who died in the 1998 terror attack. The park has been receiving 300,000 visitors annually, each paying 20 shillings entry fee. The United States adjusted its advisory in March saying calm had returned to Kenya after the power-sharing deal was signed but still warned its citizens against traveling to certain parts of the country. Ranneberger said the advisories were tools used all over the world to protect American citizens abroad. "Travel warnings for Kenya do not advise Americans not to visit Kenya. We encourage them to travel here (Kenya) but provide factual information that they should take into account when they come," he explained. Officials from the public and private sectors have complained that the travel bans negatively affect local tourism. But the U.S envoy said his country had undertaken various measures to promote Kenya's tourism sector. Kenya and the United States are also working on the Safe Skies for Africa Program to facilitate direct flights between them. Ranneberger said Washington is working with Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and airport authorities to improve safety and security at Kenyan airports and its skies which will lead to direct flights between the Washington and Nairobi. "This will be a step in the right direction. We won't be satisfied until we have direct, non-stop flights between the two countries," he said. Most recently, he said the United States had disseminated letters to the American business community telling them that Kenya is open for tourism and investment. He said that through development agency, USAID, they are providing over 6 million U.S. dollars to support environment programs in Kenya and enable the country's wildlife service protect parks, wildlife and the environment. (Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2008) |
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