By Paul Gitau and Maarufu Mohammed

Three MPs from Lamu County have assured locals and foreign tourists that the area is now safe following a massive security operation in the area.

Additional security personnel have also been stationed in the region following two attacks on tourists.

Fahim Twaha of Lamu West, Abu Chiaba (Lamu East) and nominated MP Ms Shakila Abdalla asked foreign embassies that had issued travel advisories warning their nationals against visiting Lamu to lift them.

And the Government announced on Sunday that it had eased a night curfew allowing fishermen to resume fishing activities on Lamu waters round the clock.

Lamu West DC Stephen Ikua denied the Government had imposed a total curfew. "Fishermen are free to fish during the day and night. Those spreading rumours that the Government has banned night fishing must stop," said the DC.

The leaders spoke at a meeting convened to discuss the security situation following the killing of a British tourist and abduction of two others by suspected al Shabaab gunmen.

But Ikua warned fishermen against crossing Kenya’s territorial waters. Additionally, he asked them to co-operate with security personnel currently patrolling the area following the attacks.

The MPs said security had been intensified and that the travel advisories issued following the kidnapping of the two female tourists were now unnecessary. Twaha said the two incidents were isolated cases and that the Government has now put in place machinery to curb a recurrence.

Security machinery

"It’s true the incidents occurred because our security was not up to date but now we are confident that the security machinery put in place will deter such attacks," Shakila noted.

Chiaba asked fishermen to cooperate and provide information to law enforcers. The Fisheries assistant minister said any fisherman who aids foreigners to enter the country would face the full wrath of the law.

There were massive cancellations of hotel bookings by tourists and hundreds of workers at the hotels have been laid off following the attacks.

Twaha was addressing hundreds of locals on Sunday evening during a fundsdrive in aid of Markas Islahi Islamiya’ Integrated School in Matondoni village on Lamu Island.

He helped raise over Sh3,000,000.

Fishermen in Lamu Island have not been fishing since last week and had protested that the ban had affected their livelihoods.

Ikua also chaired a security meeting involving hoteliers at the Lamu Palace hotel.