Kenya and Israel appear to have resolved a brief diplomatic disagreement after Israel withdrew Kenya from a list of countries whose travellers had been subjected to Ebola-related entry restrictions.
The decision was welcomed by Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Korir Sing’Oei, who described the move as a sign of the strong ties between the two countries.
“We welcome very much the decision of Israel to vacate the ` of Kenya from the list of countries subject to Ebola-related restrictions,” Sing’Oei wrote.
“We are grateful for your sensitivity, friendship and partnership,” he added.
The restrictions had been introduced through a directive issued on June 10, 2026, by Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority through the Border Control office at Ben Gurion International Airport.
Under the measures, airlines were instructed to prevent certain categories of travellers from boarding flights to Israel due to concerns over Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa.
The directive had listed the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda among countries affected by the travel measures.
It also applied to foreign nationals of any nationality who had travelled to or stayed in any of the listed countries within 21 days before their intended journey to Israel.
Airlines were required to verify passengers’ recent travel history before allowing them to board. Israeli citizens and residents, however, were exempt from the restrictions.
Kenya strongly objected to its inclusion on the list, arguing that the country had not recorded any Ebola cases and had instead played a leading role in regional disease surveillance and response efforts.
At the time, Sing’Oei criticised the decision, saying it failed to reflect Kenya’s public health record.
“Kenya strongly protests the decision by Israel to include the country amongst those whose travellers it will restrict,” Sing’Oei wrote at the time.
“This is especially unfortunate given Kenya’s support to regional surveillance and response to Ebola. With over 80,000 tests, no case of Ebola has been reported in Kenya,”he added.
The removal of Kenya from the restricted list is being viewed as a diplomatic success for Nairobi, which had maintained that the measures were not supported by the country’s health data.
The decision is expected to restore ease of travel between the two nations, benefiting businesspeople, tourists, students and pilgrims who regularly travel between Kenya and Israel.
The development also highlights the delicate balance governments face in responding to public health threats while ensuring that travel measures remain guided by scientific evidence and international cooperation.
