Israel has lifted travel-related entry restrictions that had temporarily affected Kenyan travellers, ending a measure that had sparked concern among Kenyan officials and renewed discussions over regional Ebola preparedness.
The announcement was made on June 15 through the Israeli Embassy in Kenya, which confirmed that both Kenya and Rwanda had been removed from the list of countries subject to temporary Ebola-related travel controls.
“We are pleased to announce that Israel’s Ministry of Health has decided to remove Kenya and Rwanda from the list of countries subject to temporary Ebola-related entry restrictions,” the embassy stated.
The restrictions had initially grouped Kenya and Rwanda together with Uganda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following concerns over Ebola outbreaks in parts of the region. As part of the measures, Israeli authorities had instructed airlines to deny boarding to affected travellers heading to Israel.
The travel directive also targeted foreign nationals who had visited any of the listed countries within 21 days prior to their intended journey to Israel.
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Abraham Korir Sing’Oei welcomed the latest development, describing it as a victory for evidence-based decision-making and diplomatic engagement.
“Israel’s decision to lift this restriction shows that science, dialogue and mutual trust work; that facts can beat fear; and that partnership beats barriers. This is how friends must act. Todah Rabah,” Sing’Oei remarked.
The reversal came shortly after Kenya lodged a formal protest over its inclusion on the restriction list. Sing’Oei argued that the decision did not reflect Kenya’s actual public health situation and risked straining relations between Nairobi and Tel Aviv.
He noted that Kenya has not recorded any confirmed Ebola infections and has instead invested heavily in preparedness measures to prevent a potential outbreak. Among the initiatives was a joint arrangement between Kenya and the United States to establish a 50-bed Ebola quarantine and isolation facility at Laikipia Air Base for individuals exposed to the virus in the DRC.
However, the proposal generated public debate and was later halted temporarily by the High Court following concerns raised by various stakeholders.
Despite the legal and public scrutiny surrounding the project, Kenyan authorities have maintained that the country remains ready to respond swiftly to any Ebola threat. Surveillance and screening activities have been intensified at airports, border crossings and other entry points across the country.
According to the Ministry of Health, more than 100,000 international travellers have undergone screening since the heightened monitoring measures were introduced. Authorities continue to screen approximately 3,000 people daily at designated points of entry as they track developments in neighbouring countries.
The government has further revealed plans to establish 23 Ebola isolation and treatment centres nationwide in collaboration with the United States, a move aimed at strengthening the country’s emergency response capacity and enhancing public health preparedness.