Broad travel restrictions within Kenya were also placed on remaining personnel.

“The US government is also cutting back on its regional conferences and trainings in Nairobi,” the State Department said in a new travel warning.

However, despite the evacuations, the Nairobi-based embassy would “remain open for normal operations”.

The restrictions on US officials’ travel to Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu have been put in place specifically in response to theJune 15 attack in Mpeketoni, the warning notes.

US embassy staff are also prohibited from travelling to north eastern Kenya and to Pate Island near the Somalia border.

The State Department warned US citizens of the risks of travelling to the African country, also urging those already there to “evaluate their personal security situation in light of continuing and recently heightened threats from terrorism and the high rate of violent crime in some areas.”

The US evacuates its staff almost a month after President Uhuru Kenyatta announced bold steps to increase international tourism to the east African country.