On Monday, January 11, Kenya announced that all travellers entering or departing the country must present a digitally-verified negative COVID-19 test. In a new campaign by the African Union Commission and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) dubbed the Trusted Travel (TT) Initiative, travellers can now receive the results of their COVID-19 test from a PCR COVID-19 testing laboratory via a text message (SMS) or email.

How it Works

The seven-step process used in the Trusted Travel Initiative is as follows:

  1. On the left side of the africacdc.org/trusted-travel/ page, select your country of departure.
  2. To the right, the system automatically populates the possible airports of departure in your country.
  3. Select your departure airport.
  4. Then select your destination country.
  5. The system automatically populates the possible airports of arrival.
  6. Select one.
  7. Click “Get Restrictions” to see the latest set of restrictions that apply to your journey.

Your results are either sent by Panabios (admin@panabios.org), the digital system developers, or the testing laboratories. The email you receive contains a link to guide you on generating a Travel Code at trustedtravel.panabios.org. If the test results meet Kenya’s exit and entry requirements, a Trusted Travel Code is issued to you online. Airlines and immigration authorities then use this TT code at entry and exit points to verify you.

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All existing COVID-19 testing labs were given up to Saturday, January 9, 2021, to comply with the Trusted Travel process when issuing COVID-19 testing certificates for travellers entering or departing the country. So by now, every PCR COVID-19 testing laboratory in Kenya should be part of the TT system.

COVID-19 Testing Labs in Kenya

The following are some of the testing labs in Kenya currently using the Trusted Travel system to generate digital test results for travellers.

  1. Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
  2. Aga Khan University Hospital
  3. Pathologist Lancet Kenya
  4. The Nairobi Hospital-Nairobi
  5. Kenyatta National Hospital
  6. Nairobi West Hospital
  7. M.P Shah Hospital
  8. Mbagathi County Hospital
  9. Mombasa Hospital
  10. Elgon View Bungoma Lab
  11. KEMRI – Alupe Research Centre
  12. Busia District Hospital
  13. KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi
  14. Malindi District Hospital
  15. KEMRI HIV Lab Kisumu
  16. CDC Kisumu Laboratory
  17. Machakos Level 5 Hospital
  18. Coast Province General Hospital
  19. Mombasa Hospital
  20. National HIV Reference Lab, Nairobi
  21. National Public Health Laboratory, National Influenza Center
  22. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
  23. CDC Nairobi Laboratory, Nairobi
  24. KEMRI VHF Lab Nairobi
  25. International Organization for Migration (IOM), Nairobi
  26. KEMRI CMR Nairobi
  27. AMREF Medical Centre Wilson Airport
  28. Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital
  29. Meditest Diagnostics Services
  30. Pathcare Laboratory, Nairobi
  31. Mahi Mahiu Mobile Laboratory
  32. National Public Health Laboratory, Namanga Mobile Laboratory
  33. Kitale District Hospital
  34. Moi Teaching Referral Hospital, Uasingishu
  35. AMPATH Plus-MTRH, Eldoret
  36. Wajir County Referral Hospital
  37. International Organization for Migration (IOM) International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRHK) Mombasa
  38. CA Medlynks Kenya Limited
  39. Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital
  40. Nairobi South Hospital
  41. Coptic Hospital (Ngong Road)
  42. Kilindini Sea Port
  43. Busia One-Stop Border Post (OSBP)
  44. Malaba One-Stop Border Post (OSBP)
  45. The Mater Hospital Mukuru
  46. Mediheal Group of Hospitals
  47. Gertrudes Children’s Hospital
  48. KEMRI/Walter Reed project Kericho
  49. National Public Health Laboratory, Nairobi
  50. Technical University of Mombasa
  51. Kitale County Hospital
  52. Premier Hospital Mombasa

Did you find the Trusted Travel process easy? What challenges did you face? Share your experience in the comment section below.