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Travel Insurance And Kenya s Election Your Rights
he recent Kenya elections commission admitting that one
have led to huge fallout in constituency had the surprising
the country and beyond. and unlikely turn out of 115%!
When it was announced that Elsewhere, results were announced
President Mwai Kibaki had won the differently nationally to their
election by just 230,000 votes announcement locally, and the
(out of 10,000,000 constituents) results were delayed for 24 hours
widespread political fury spread at a time when Kibaki’s Kenya
across the country – and violence election rival, Raila Odinga, was
broke out. Subsequently, all leading in the polls. It’s no
travel to the country was advised surprise that suspicion was rife,
against, and a lot of people and equally unsurprising that the
needed to claim on their global suspicion has led to unrest,
travel insurance, which was which has broken out into the
confusing given the unusual violence that has since engulfed
circumstances. I shall get to the nation.
that later, but first a little
background to the events One area this has affected the
surrounding the Kenya election. most is Kenya’s previously
buzzing tourism industry, and is
So far there have been 600 deaths one that is easily the country’s
and some 250,000 people (more biggest source of foreign income,
than the alleged ‘majority’ of totaling an estimated
Kibaki) fleeing their homes. The £500,000,000 per year. At the
reason for this is the continued start of a year, Kenya could
allegations of vote rigging, and generally expect to be welcoming
the evidence for it has really hundreds of tourists a day – the
begun to pile up, with plenty of recent fall out reduced the
strong claims emerging, including numbers down to a brave few who
the head of the Kenya election had decided to ignore the
inevitable warnings from the affects a previously peaceful
foreign office about traveling to country you were due to travel
the country, which was then to? While I can’t speak for all
placed in the ‘civil unrest’ list global travel insurance
of places not to visit. providers, this is the line we
Subsequently, the Federation of took with Kenya, and I suspect a
Tour Operators cancelled all similar policy has been adopted
holidays to Kenya, and a lot of by our rivals for their Kenya
people previously booked to visit travel insurance policies:
the fascinating country were left
with no option but to cancel, and 1. If you are traveling with a
hurriedly check the small print tour operator, they should
of their worldwide travel provide you with a refund or an
insurance policies! alternative holiday itinerary in
a safer region.
Well, now the foreign office’s
advice has been lifted, and you 2. If you are traveling
can begin traveling to Kenya independently, then you should be
again (though the FCO still able to easily obtain a refund
advises against travel to Western from your airline, and possibly
and Nyanza provinces, the Rift from your accommodation provider.
Valley province between Narok and
Kitale, the central business 3. If for some reason, either of
district, Kibera, Mathere and these courses of action fail, and
Eastleigh areas of Nairobi, Uhura you have a policy with us, then
Park and Mombasa Town.) But what we would offer reimbursement for
if something like this happens unused travel and accommodation,
elsewhere? What steps should you under the terms of a Kenya travel
take if you find sudden and insurance policy.
unexpected political fallout
Obviously, I cannot be certain terms of your travel insurance.
this is the approach other
worldwide travel insurance
providers will be taking, but I’d contact your provider as soon as align="center"> possible and work out the exact
About the Author:
Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of Journey’s Travel. Their commercial travel insurance website, Insuremore, offers cheap worldwide travel insurance packages for families, singles, children and skiers with free cover against acts of terrorism and a quick and easy online claims feature. Published At: www.Isnare.com |
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