Covid-19
Kenyans Denied Access to 40 Countries Despite Vaccinations Drive
Despite a massive vaccination campaign put up by the government, Kenyan passport holders are barred from accessing 40 countries, a marginal drop from 43 in October last year and 54 in July.
This has forced Kenyans to remain locked out of many destinations at a time when nations are trying to ease travel restrictions due to the increased Covid-19 vaccinations.
According to the Henly Passport Index, the body that regularly monitors the world’s most friendly passports, many countries are still keen on protecting their citizens from the new variants of the coronavirus.
“This year, Passport Index data paints a picture of a world recovery, bolstered by growing access to vaccines and an inherent desire to move, meet and connect across the globe,” read the report.
Countries that have restricted Kenyan passport holders include Taiwan, Israel, Sweden, Vatican City, South Korea, Singapore, Poland, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Chile, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Cameroon among others.
Other countries have however removed Kenya from the list of Covid-19 ban and they include Ireland, Bulgaria, Canada, Hong Kong, Denmark, and the UK.
The report follows a time when the country has recorded a high increase in cases of Covid-19 infections in recent weeks.
Kenya is among the many countries that have started to implement the booster programs with the increased cases due to the emergence of the new Omicron variant, the WHO noted. The country has so far vaccinated 14.4 percent of its adult population, with 4.2 million people having been fully vaccinated and 5.8 million have received the first jab.
The Kenyan passport has also dropped from the 12th position in October to 32nd in the current review, making it lose its strength in Africa. According to the KNBS, GDP grew by 9.9 percent in the third quarter and the country is counting on easing restrictions to lift the economy.
