Kenya Protests Israel’s Travel Ban Over Ebola Concerns
Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Abraham Korir Sing’Oei has criticized Israel’s decision to place Kenya on a list of nations facing increased travel restrictions due to the Ebola outbreak.
In a statement issued on Monday, June 15, the PS called the move unreasonable, noting Kenya’s public health record and current surveillance efforts.
Sing’Oei stated that Kenya has been supporting regional Ebola surveillance and response procedures and has conducted thousands of tests without finding any confirmed cases of the virus.
“Kenya strongly protests the decision by Israel to include the country amongst those whose travellers it will restrict,” he wrote.
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 PS added, “This is especially 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.”
The protest follows a regulation issued by Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority on June 10.
The Middle East state instructed airlines to refuse boarding to foreign customers traveling from or recently visiting multiple countries.
The countries listed include Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Additionally, the directive bars any foreign nationals who have visited the listed countries within 21 days prior to travel from boarding flights to Israel, regardless of nationality or residency status.
Israel’s immigration authority instructed airlines to screen all passengers before boarding and verify travel history within the restricted period.
Israel has imposed travel restrictions on nationals from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo over Ebola concerns.@dennisaseto #WeekendPrime pic.twitter.com/eLN4CV5H1z— KTN News (@KTNNewsKE) June 13, 2026
They subsequently deny entry onto flights bound for Israel if they meet the criteria.
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“Airlines must question every foreign passenger prior to boarding, which includes verifying whether they have stayed in any of the restricted countries listed above during the past 21 days,” the authority wrote.
“If the answer is affirmative, they must not be permitted to board the flight to Israel.”
In the directive, Israel clarified that the measures take effect immediately and do not apply to Israeli citizens or residents.
The Kenyan government has maintained that its Ebola surveillance and response systems remain active.
They cited extensive testing and coordination with regional health partners as part of efforts to prevent and manage potential outbreaks.
Israel’s new rules come amid renewed global caution over Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa, prompting tighter travel controls by several countries.
Kenya Protests Israel’s Travel Ban Over Ebola Concerns
