Israel Makes U-Turn On Travel Restriction To Kenya After Protest
The Israeli government has removed Kenya from a list of nations that had previously faced temporary travel restrictions due to Ebola worries in regions of Africa.
On June 15, the Israeli Embassy in Kenya reported that Rwanda had been removed from the same list.
“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 said.
Kenya and Rwanda were first listed alongside Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as nations subject to interim limitations.
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.— Israel in Kenya (@IsraelinKenya) June 15, 2026
Israel had introduced them as a precautionary step in response to regional Ebola worries.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Abraham Korir Sing’Oei confirmed that the restriction had been lifted and welcomed the decision, thanking Israeli authorities for reviewing the matter.
“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 said.
The initial restrictions were communicated through a notice dated June 10, 2026, in which Israel’s Border Control Department directed airlines to deny boarding to affected travellers on flights bound for Israel.
Kenya strongly protests the decision by Israel to include the country amongst those whose travellers it will restrict. This is esp unfortunate given Kenya’s support to regional surveillance & response to Ebola. With over 80,000 tests, no case of Ebola has been reported in Kenya. pic.twitter.com/7pKBwcyBMn— Korir Sing’Oei (@SingoeiAKorir) June 15, 2026
The restrictions also applied to foreign nationals from any country who had visited any of the listed countries within 21 days before travelling to Israel.
ALSO READ:
- Murkomen Reveals New Framework To Regulate Public Protests
- Kenya Speaks On US-Iran Peace Agreement As Hormuz Strait Set To Open
- Israel Makes U-Turn On Travel Restriction To Kenya After Protest
- Ex-Citizen TV Journalist Enters 2027 Gilgil MP Race
- Protests Hit Geneva, Switzerland Ahead Of Ruto’s Visit
The lifting of the restrictions came just hours after Sing’Oei strongly protested Kenya’s inclusion on the list.
The PS argued that the decision was not supported by the country’s public health record and risked undermining the strong diplomatic ties between Nairobi and Tel Aviv.
Sing’Oei argued that Kenya’s inclusion was particularly surprising given the country’s extensive preparedness measures.
Despite having no confirmed Ebola cases, Kenya and the United States previously agreed to establish a 50-bed Ebola quarantine and isolation facility at Laikipia Air Base.
The facility is meant to support the monitoring and treatment of individuals exposed to the virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Israel Makes U-Turn On Travel Restriction To Kenya After Protest
