US cautions its citizens against travelling to Kenya following the Westgate attack

By Standard Digital Reporter

The US state department has issued a travel warning to its citizens against travelling to Kenya after the terrorist attack that occurred on September 21^st, 2013 in Nairobi’s Westgate Shopping Mall.

“US citizens in Kenya, and those considering travel to Kenya, should evaluate their personal security situation in light of continuing and recently heightened threats from terrorism and the high rate of violent crime in some areas,” the statement advised.

The statement added that the US government continues to receive information about potential terrorist threats aimed at US, Western and Kenyan interests in Kenya, including in the Nairobi area and in the coastal city of Mombasa.

The state department highlighted that the terrorists are likely to engage in acts like suicide operations, bombings, kidnappings, attacks on civil aviation and attacks on maritime vessels in or near Kenyan ports.

The travel advisory warning comes after numerous series of terrorist attacks in various parts of Kenya.

In early August 2013, the Department of State instructed certain US embassies and consulates to remain closed or to suspend operations from August 4 through August 10 because of some security information it received.