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.

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.