US Embassy Clarifies Military Plane’s Presence at Mombasa Port
The US Embassy in Nairobi has explained why a US military plane was seen flying into Mombasa Port area recently.
In a statement on Monday September 28, the embassy confirmed the plane was heading back to the US for maintenance after conducting counterterrorism operations in the region.
“Thanks to the Kenya Ports Authority for their support as US aircraft head back to the US for maintenance after supporting counterterrorism operations,” the embassy said.
The US has had military ties with Kenya for years especially in the fight against terrorism in the Horn of Africa. This comes as the two countries continue to collaborate on regional security matters.
This follows another advisory from Washington earlier this month urging international travelers planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America to apply for visas early.
On September 3, the US Department of State Consular Affairs noted that embassies and consulates were working “hard” to make the visa process smooth for fans expected to attend the tournament.
“Foreign travelers planning to attend a 2026 World Cup match in the US who need a US visa should apply now. Our embassies and consulates are working hard to make the visa process efficient, smooth and effective to protect America’s security,” the statement read.
The 2026 tournament will be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico with matches played in 16 cities—11 in the US, 3 in Mexico and 2 in Canada. Venues include world famous stadiums like New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Texas’ AT&T Stadium and Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca.
In August, the US Embassy in Nairobi also reminded Kenyans seeking visas to be transparent about their social media accounts during the application process.
In a statement on August 4, the embassy warned that omitting social media details could lead to automatic visa denial and even bar applicants from future eligibility.
“Did you know that omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas?” the statement asked.
Since 2019, the US government has required both immigrant and nonimmigrant applicants to disclose their social media identifiers as part of the security vetting process.“We use all the information we have in the visa screening and vetting to determine who is inadmissible to the US including those who pose a threat to US national security,” the embassy said.
This comes as Washington has two priorities in the region—supporting security operations in East Africa and preparing for the millions of global visitors expected to arrive for the 2026 World Cup.
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US Embassy Clarifies Military Plane’s Presence at Mombasa Port