Lamu hotels closing down, laying off workers after month of violence

Tourism in Lamu archipelago is nearing collapse following a month of militia attacks which has seen close to 100 people dead with hotels remaining deserted even as the sector's high season dawns.

Most hotels in the island have closed down, laying off hundreds of workers. International and local seminars scheduled to take place in the area have been cancelled.

Romantic Group of Hotels, which operates Lamu Paradise, Petleys Inn and Sultan Palace, has reduced its workforce from 80 to 15 after the closure of two of the three hotels.

"We have closed down Petleys Inn and Sultan Palace because there are no guests. At Lamu Palace, we have 15 employees but we have not had any international visitor in the last one month," said.

Romantic Hotels General Manager, Ms Keziah Mumbi said the three hotels have a bed capacity of 65 but have only received one guest in the last five days. Seminars by the USAID and Marie Stops scheduled to take place in the hotel this month were cancelled on security concerns.

At the neighbouring Manda Island, Majlis Hotel had reportedly closed for lack of business. Hotels in the county had invested heavily in facelifts and staff hiring and training in anticipation for the high season after a spell of low business in May to June.

Lamu County has continued to experience attacks from a terrorgant the security believes is hiding in the expansive Boni forest.
Between June 15 and 17 June, 65 people were killed in Mpeketoni and on July 6, twin attacks left 22 dead.