Domestic flights to cease operations in five counties on Monday

Domestic flights in Kenya will continue to operate until Monday, March 29, 2021 noon, after which all operations will cease.

This is in accordance with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive today regarding cessation of movement by road, rail, or air in and out of the one-zoned area comprising of Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado, and Nakuru counties.

“Operations of aircraft shall be allowed until the stated deadline, and thereafter cease any movements,” the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Director-General Gilbert Kibe said.

Air travelers are advised to seek alternative means.

Announcing more stringent Covid-19 measures on Friday, Uhuru ordered the cessation of movement in five counties by road, rail, or air, effective midnight.

“All persons coming into the country must be in possession of a negative COVID-19 PCR Certificate, acquired no more than 96 hours prior to arrival into the country,” he added.

Further, the PCR Certificate must be validated under the Trusted Travel platform for all air travelers.

Both domestic and international tourists who need to access the capital city also have until Monday, mid-day.

“Tourists who are in transit into the country and are scheduled to visit offerings out of Nairobi can only do so until Monday, March 29 mid-day and will not be confined into Nairobi past that date,” Tourism CS Najib Balala has announced.

Similarly, Kenya Railways has also announced changes in the Madaraka Express Passenger Service and the Nairobi Commuter Rail service operations.

“Normal services will run on Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28, between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm and on Monday, March 29, 2021, up to noon.”

Services will thereafter be halted until further notice.

The suspension of flights comes barely a day after the national carrier Kenya Airways launched direct flights between Kisumu and Moi International Airports.

The Aviation Industry was heavily hit last year and suffered huge losses following the suspension of both local and international flights, occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Local flights have been in operation since July 15, 2020, while international flights resumed on August 1.