British government lifts travel advisories on Mombasa Kwale and Kilifi

Kenya: The British government has with immediate effect lifted a travel advisory on her citizens who would wish to visit Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi.

This announcement could have come at a better time for the country whose tourism lifeline has nosedived since the advisories were upgraded at the end of March this year.

Announcing the lift at the celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II birthday at his residence in Muthaiga, Nairobi the British High Commissioner Dr. Christian Turner said this was part of the confidence his country has grown following concerted efforts by the Kenyan military, police and intelligence to keep the coastal cities safe from terror.

“I am pleased that, following my consultations with Government security officials in Mombasa last week, the Foreign Secretary decided yesterday to lift our travel advice against that part of the Coast,” he announced to a rousing applause.

The diplomat who came to Kenya over three years ago was full of imagery in his speech and called security the ‘Elephant’ assuring Kenyans that his government was working closely with Kenya to keep the country safe.

“This weeks’ news that a British National was killed fighting for Al Shabaab at Baure , if confirmed, shows once again that the threat is a shared one, and why we must work together to tackle radicalization,” he said.

According to reports over 25 hotels had been closed in the coastal towns of Mombasa following the travel advisories and as a consequence over 3000 jobs lost.

A further 4000 jobs had been lost in the tour sub-sector with more than 900 vans staying idle.

But the advisories on Malindi and Lamu are still on and according to Dr Turner will take sometime before they are revised.

He said the advisories are informed by the security situation on the ground and that his government had the obligation to protect its citizens at all times.

“I would like to congratulate and condole the Kenya Defense Forces for a sterling performance n rebuffing a terrorist attack in Lamu recently,” he conveyed.

speaking during the colourful event, immediate former President Mwai Kibaki thanked Mr. Turner for the move.

“Needless to emphasize, but quite regrettable nonetheless, the number of visitors streaming to Kenya from Britain has dwindled significantly in recent days much to the detriment of our tourism sector. I believe Britain is capable of meeting Kenya mid-way in our efforts to fight insecurity and terrorism and by so doing pave the way for the much-desired lifting of travel advisories like you have just done,” he said admit applause from among them diplomats business chief executives, civil society and government representatives led by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed.

In his speech Dr Turner responded to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s earlier reference to British citizens as taxi drivers during the Kenya Diaspora meeting in Nairobi just a day before the deadly Garissa University attack where 147 students were killed.

“The thick-skinned rhinos, are our visitors, some of whom it is true drive taxis,” he said sending the keen audience to roars of laughter.

He said the UK has issued no universal ban against travel to Kenya reiterating that his government had an obligation to advise her nationals of security all over the world, and in the last 12 months have issued advisories against France, Egypt and India.

“UK still sends more visitors to Kenya a year than any other country, and I would like to see that number radically increase, with UK working with Kenya’s Tourism sector to rebuild a world-beating product,” he said.

President Kenyatta had been frustrated by the continuous advisories by the UK and U.S Governments against visits by their citizens based on rising insecurity at the coast and other parts of the country following systematic terrorist attacks over time.

Hon Justice Mutunga presented Dr Turner with a copy of Kenya’ Constitution 2010 for which the latter said he was grateful.

Also present at the event was Baringo Senator Hon Gideon Moi.

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