The Kenyan aviation authorities on Wednesday put a ban on unaccompanied luggage on aircraft from Somalia. The authorities also insisted security checks for all planes that land at Wajir Airport.
The Kenyan Foreign Affairs Ministry sent a letter addressed to the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs this week that noted any unaccompanied baggage will be confiscated and destroyed in line with air transport regulations.
“The government of Kenya will henceforth not allow unaccompanied baggage from Somalia into the country,” the letter read, reported Daily Nation. “Such baggage will be confiscated and destroyed in line with applicable air transport safety and security regulations and the carrier airline will be held responsible.”
The letter said that security and aviation agencies had reversed the directive on direct flights between Nairobi and Mogadishu because the latter had flouted aviation safety standards on travelers.there were some serious “security considerations” that influenced Kenya to reintroduce security check-ups at Wajir airport, two years after they were lifted.
The decision was taken as Somalia did little to ensure the safety of passengers traveling to Nairobi. Kenyan officials claimed Somalia’s immigration checks are weak as some passengers are allowed to load luggage while they remain behind.
The Kenyan government also offered its stand on the visa denial issue. It said that no Somali official with proper documentation and visa were denied entry into Kenya. The Foreign Affairs Ministry clarified that the four Somali nationals who were denied entry on May 20, 2019, were traveling on diplomatic passports but did not have visas.
“The government has no intention to deny, Somali nationals entry into Kenya provided they have the necessary entry requirements which are known to the immigration officials of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” the Ministry said.
Kenya has also downplayed the announcement by Somalia that it would boycott future regional meetings in Nairobi.
