Update, 28 October 2026. Many Kenya itineraries also touch Uganda. Uganda's Ministry of Health said on 25 October that every traveller entering Uganda must complete a Passenger Locator Form, and that travellers with a history of travel to the DRC may not transit through Uganda. Details: Flying to or through Entebbe: Uganda's Ebola rules for airlines and OTAs.
The US State Department raised Kenya to Level 3, Reconsider Travel, on 19 October, citing health risks. It is not a travel ban, and Kenya is not covered by the CDC entry suspension. Kenya's electronic health form now applies to travellers coming from 10 countries (list below). Details: US raises Kenya travel advisory to Level 3 over Ebola.
On 12 October 2026, Kenya's Health Cabinet Secretary declared Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus a formidable epidemic disease and published new Public Health (Ebola Disease) Rules. The rules apply at every airport, seaport and land border. For travel sellers, the practical change is simple: every passenger flying into or out of Kenya now has a legal duty to be screened and to complete a health declaration.
This sits on top of Kenya's ETA and the mandatory inbound travel health insurance that started in early October. The health declaration is an extra step, not a replacement.
This note is for airlines and OTAs selling Kenya. It is not legal advice.
What changed
The two instruments are in Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 240 of 12 October 2026: Legal Notice No. 203, the Public Health (Declaration of Formidable Epidemic Disease) Order, 2026, and Legal Notice No. 204, the Public Health (Ebola Disease) Rules, 2026.
Travellers coming from 10 countries must also complete Kenya's Electronic Traveler Health Surveillance Form before leaving the aircraft: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda, plus Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania and Zambia. The QR code comes from the airline or is shown at the port of entry, and these travellers may also face temperature screening. KCAA's May circular (AIC 07/26) named only the DRC and Uganda. The 10-country list comes from the US State Department's Kenya page and carrier notices such as RwandAir's. Carriers should give passengers the form link before the journey.
Kenya has not closed its borders. Kenya Airways' travel advisory describes enhanced screening for travelers who arrive from, or recently visited, affected areas.
What airlines and OTAs should do now
Add a Kenya health notice to confirmations and pre-departure emails. Say that all passengers will be screened and must complete a health declaration on arrival and on departure.
Flag itineraries from the 10 listed countries. For trips that start in, or come from, the DRC, South Sudan, Uganda, Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania or Zambia, include the Electronic Traveler Health Surveillance Form. This includes common safari combinations with Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. If the trip continues to mainland Tanzania, every traveller also needs Tanzania's own health surveillance form, required since 17 October. See Tanzania's new health form for all travellers.
Tell passengers to answer truthfully. False or misleading information is an offence under the Rules.
Build in time at Nairobi and Mombasa. Allow extra time at arrival and departure, especially for tight onward connections.
Explain the quarantine cost rule. A traveler placed in a private facility may have to pay unless a medical officer ordered it in writing. Point customers to their own travel insurance for this.
Keep Kenya's other steps in the flow. The ETA and the mandatory Kenyan inbound health insurance are still required. See Kenya's ETA portal and the US$44 insurance requirement and the Kenya ETA consent letter and affidavit.
Watch for changes. The Rules must be reviewed at least every three months. Check the Ministry of Health and KCAA before changing your messaging.
Do not call it a ban. The US Level 3 advisory (19 October) asks US citizens to reconsider travel. It does not close Kenya. Corporate travel policies and some insurance policies treat Level 3 in their own way, so check yours.
Related: Uganda drops the yellow fever certificate for entry and eVisa API for OTAs and airlines.
Coverage alerts send one email per rule change for the destinations you pick, from the partner console. Systems can take the same events as webhooks; the shape is in the developer docs. The live requirement for any passport is always in the requirements checker.
Information taken from the sources below. Not legal advice. Confirm the current health rule on the Ministry of Health notice before you change a passenger script.
Related: Tanzania now requires a health surveillance form from every traveller and Uganda: Passenger Locator Form for every traveller, no transit after the DRC.
Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 240, Legal Notices 203 and 204 verified 14 Oct 2026 · KCAA, AIC 07/26, 21 May 2026 verified 14 Oct 2026 · Kenya Airways travel alerts verified 14 Oct 2026 · US Department of State, Kenya Travel Advisory, 19 Oct 2026 verified 20 Oct 2026 · RwandAir, Ebola Travel Advisory - Kenya verified 20 Oct 2026 · Uganda Ministry of Health, statement on Ebola preparedness and response, 25 October 2026 verified 28 Oct 2026