The United Kingdom has issued a fresh travel advisory for British nationals visiting Kenya, warning against all but essential travel to Moyale Town and areas within five kilometres of the Ethiopia border over escalating security concerns.
The advisory, issued by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), cites growing insecurity in the border region, including cross-border violence linked to clashes involving armed groups and security forces in neighbouring Ethiopia.
According to the warning, the restriction covers Moyale Town, the immediate border crossing and surrounding areas within a five-kilometre radius of the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
The FCDO has cautioned British citizens against unnecessary journeys to the affected areas, urging those already in the region to remain alert, monitor local developments and follow instructions issued by local authorities.
The security concerns are partly linked to reported clashes involving forces and militia groups in Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regions, with fears that instability could spill over into neighbouring Kenyan communities.
The region has also faced wider security challenges associated with cross-border movements and the threat of attacks by armed groups, including Al-Shabaab, which has previously targeted parts of northern and eastern Kenya.
The latest advisory follows violent clashes that erupted on October 22, 2026, in the Ethiopian town of Moyale, involving armed groups from the Oromia and Somali regions.
The fighting has reportedly spilled across the border into Kenya, with stray bullets, unexploded ordnance and other projectiles landing in Kenyan territory, resulting in deaths and injuries.
The violence has also triggered a humanitarian crisis, forcing thousands of Ethiopian nationals to flee across the border into Kenya in search of safety.
Kenya’s Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, recently visited Moyale and assured residents that the government had deployed additional security personnel to protect communities and prevent further escalation.
Kanja said security agencies were monitoring developments along the border while Kenya engaged Ethiopian authorities to address the situation.
The clashes have also disrupted cross-border trade, transport and other economic activities, affecting residents and businesses that depend on movement between the two countries.
The British government has further warned that travellers who disregard its official advice risk having their travel insurance invalidated.
The FCDO maintains separate and stricter travel restrictions for other parts of northern and eastern Kenya because of the threat of terrorism, particularly attacks associated with Al-Shabaab militants operating from neighbouring Somalia.
The latest advisory does not amount to a blanket travel ban on Kenya but specifically targets Moyale Town and the surrounding five-kilometre area.
British nationals planning journeys to the affected region have been urged to consult the updated travel guidance and follow instructions from local security authorities.
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