Africa: Vaccine passport will be mandatory for Kenyans to travel from 2022 says Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Najib Balala

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Najib Balala has stated that Kenyans traveling out of the country from 2022 will be required to have a vaccine passport.

According to a report on africa.cgtn.com, the Government of Kenya is in consultations with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), to create the vaccine passports.

“The reality is we’re going to get a vaccination passport. It’s like the former yellow fever vaccination card, so we will have a vaccination card for COVID-19, and probably one will need to be vaccinated every year.” Balala said.

The announcement was made during the launch of the vaccination drive of the hospitality and tourism sector to hoteliers, tour drivers, travel agents, restaurants foodservice and bars employees in KICC, Nairobi.

“COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool in curbing the effects of the pandemic, which will eventually help tourism rise again.” the ministry of tourism said.

The vaccination drive will begin in Nairobi for the next 10 days, and will then move to the other 4 counties within the one zone area (Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado and Nakuru), and eventually vaccinate all the hospitality and tourism frontliners in Kenya.