Netherlands promises to help Kenya restore security

By Kevine Omollo

MASENO, KENYA: The Netherlands Government will not evacuate her citizens from Kenya over insecurity threats.

The Dutch government will however collaborate with the Kenyan government to improve on the security situation and mutual economic development.

The country’s Ambassador to Kenya Joost Reintjes said his government was not planning to issue advisories which affect the country’s economic sector because Kenya is its major economic partner.

Reintjes who spoke at Maseno University in Kisumu County during a public lecture on ‘freedom of communication’ said Kenya is one of the Netherland’s biggest business partners hence they were keen to promote corporation between the two countries.

“There are incidences of insecurity reported around but this does not mean we pull our people out of the country. There are so many Netherland citizens in Kenya and we also have several investments here in Kenya,” said Reintjes.

The sentiments come in the wake of US, UK, France and Australia issuing travel advisories to their citizens against visiting Kenya, especially the coastal city of Mombasa, a decision which has caused uproar in government with Coalition For Reforms and Democracy (Cord) blaming Jubilee government for failing to counter insecurity in the country.

The Kenya Government however says the travel advisories by the four Western countries over high threats of terror attacks in the country are aimed at causing unnecessary fear and panic.

The Government termed the move as ‘unfriendly acts coming from partners who have borne the brunt of global terrorism’ decisions by United States, United Kingdom, Australia and France to warn their citizens against visiting some regions and towns in the country.

Hundreds of tourists from the four countries have been reported to have cancelled their trips to Kenya and scores have hurriedly left the country.

On Wednesday, Reintjes said Netherlands citizens have an array of safe tourists’ sites in Kenya to visit.