Regardless of how this all shakes out there are lessons here for American travelers, who are planning travel in increasing numbers to nations in which there is potential for civil unrest.
Shortly after the election, the Kenya Tourist Board reported that the main scheduled international carriers into Nairobi for the North American market, including Kenya Airways, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and Emirates, were operating normally. Domestic carriers, it said, were also on schedule, and tours were operating "normally with little disruption."
Nevertheless, some tour operators immediately took precautions. For instance, Micato Safaris arranged for many of its clients to bypass Nairobi - where riot police used tear gas and water cannons Jan. 3 to turn back crowds who tried to rally - and instead has been flying travelers directly to the game parks by chartered aircraft. It has also posted its own staff members at Nairobi hotels to assist guests scheduled to spend the night there.
The United States and British governments strongly urged travelers to weigh the risks of travel to Kenya. On Jan. 2, Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued an advisory against all but essential travel to Kenya. The State Department had already urged Americans in an Oct. 18 travel warning to carefully consider the risks of travel to the country, citing "continuing terrorist threats and increasing incidents of violent crime." A public announcement Dec. 31 followed the election violence. Control Risks, a risk-consulting company, advised clients to defer nonessential travel to Kenya and recommended those already in the country to remain at their destination and avoid overland travel when possible. While foreigners are not being targeted, said Laura Winthrop, a vice president, "there is an incidental risk of being caught up in clashes."
