Travellers from 11 African countries will have to undergo a mandatory rapid coronavirus test before being allowed in the country, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has announced. 

Among the countries listed include ;  South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Ghana, Namibia, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zambia.

The directive comes at the backdrop of a surge in the cases of the omicron variant in the said countries. 

The aviation body further said that the list of countries will be updated periodically.

The rapid test is aimed at curbing and reducing the number of falsified documents that may have contributed to the rise of Covid-19 infections in the country.

The rapid test will be free of charge.

The directive comes a day after Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA)suspended all inbound and transit passenger flights from Kenya for 48 hours.