The US State Department has issued a travel alert ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit to Kenya later this month.
The alert warned US citizens that they could be targeted due planned public events like the sixth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi in which President Obama is attending.
“As with all large public events, there is the opportunity for criminal elements to target participants and other visitors,†the travel alert read. “Large-scale public events such as this summit can also be a target for terrorists.
The alert encouraged travelers to be on the lookout for possible terrorists and criminals. They were also encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (SMART) to enable them to receive pertinent safety and security information.
The alert is set to expire on July 30, after the summit ends.
The US has, however, acknowledged Kenya’s counter-terrorism efforts following a series of attacks by the Somali armed group Al-Shabaab mainly in the North East and coastal region.
The US leader is to visit Kenya for the first time as President and will attend the business conference scheduled to run from July 24 to 26. The summit will be co-hosted by the US and Kenya.