The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) has lodged a protest against the government’s sudden rollout of mandatory travel health insurance for inbound foreign nationals.
According to the association, the abrupt change has left travel professionals, airlines and visitors in limbo due to a severe lack of operational clarity. “Given the abrupt rollout and limited information available to travel agents, tour operators, airlines and travellers in general, we would appreciate confirmation of the effective date and scope of implementation, including the specific categories of travellers affected and the requirements applicants must fulfil prior to travel or entry into Kenya,” KATA said in a letter dated October 7.
The letter addressed to Immigration Director General Evelyn Cheluget comes a day after the High Court upheld the Sh6.4 million minimum insurance cover required for non-Kenyans intending to enter and remain in the country for less than 12 months. The court dismissed a constitutional petition by Marsabit residents Edow Issack Mohammed and Zhulekha Mohamed Edin, finding that Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale acted within the law when he issued a Gazette Notice announcing the requirement.
The notice requires qualifying visitors to carry insurance with cumulative benefits of at least $50,000 (Sh6.4 million), covering medical expenses, emergency transport, evacuation, mental illness treatment and repatriation. All visitors who intend to travel to Kenya are required to purchase mandatory insurance through the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). The minimum benefits include $50,000 (Sh6.5 million) for medical expenses, $25,000 (Sh3.2 million) for emergency medical transportation, $300 (Sh38,700) for prescribed medicine, $1,000 (Sh129,000) for mental illness treatment and $5,000 (Sh645,000) for repatriation of mortal remains.
The petitioners had questioned the eTA system, insurer approval criteria and the policy framework supporting the scheme. They argued that a Health Ministry clarification allowing qualifying insurance bought in travellers’ home countries conflicted with the Gazette Notice, which referred to insurers licensed under the Insurance Act.
