Anger as Britain, Australia tighten travel warnings against Kenya

Officers conduct a security check on members of the public before entering Nyayo National Stadium during Jamhuri Day celebrations last year. (Photo:File/Standard)

The United Kingdom and Australia have issued new travel advisories against Kenya, eliciting panic and fury in the local tourism industry.

The two countries warned that terrorist attacks by Al Shabaab on the Kenyan coast and Nairobi are imminent.

But the advisory from the UK, issued on Friday, is more alarming. It warns its citizens to keep off most parts of the Coast, including the Moi International Airport, Mombasa. This has sparked anxiety and anger among stakeholders yet to recover from last year’s recession and previous travel bans.

The advisories followed recent assessments by Kenya’s intelligence services suggesting that newly trained militants from Somalia had recently entered Mombasa and could be planning attacks.

On Thursday, a top police officer Mohamed Khamisi, who was involved in combating extremism and terrorism in Mombasa’s Old Town, was shot and killed by alleged members of an Al Shabaab cell, sparking a police swoop that netted 52 suspects.

“There is a high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping. The main threat comes from extremists linked to Al Shabaab, a militant group that has carried out attacks in Kenya in response to Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia,” says Friday statement on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.

“Current information suggests that terrorists may be planning attacks against crowded locations in Nairobi in the near future,” said an alert on Smart Traveller, the Australian government’s travel advice website, according to Reuters.

In the FCO post, Britons have been advised not to travel within 15 kilometres of the Coast from the Tana River down to and including Tiwi, South of Mombasa. The FCO advised against all but essential travel to the Coast from Tiwi to the border with Somalia.

“This area includes Mombasa Island, Moi International Airport, Malindi, Kilifi and Watamu, but does not include Diani,” said FCO.

Somalia border

The British government also advises its nationals to avoid all but essential travel to areas within 60km of the Kenya-Somalia border; Garissa, Eastleigh and Lamu County.

The Kenya Government has slammed these alerts, saying they will cause severe damage to the country’s tourism industry.

“If you’re currently in an area to which we now advise against all but essential travel you should consider whether you have an essential reason to remain. If not, you should leave the area,” the advisory warned.

“The UK provides an extensive and ongoing programme of counter-terrorism assistance to the Kenyan government, and is working closely with the Kenyan security agencies to counter this shared threat through assistance on investigating, prosecuting and detaining terrorists in line with international human rights standards,” the statement added.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett Saturday said the country is on high alert following threats of terror attack.

The IG said security forces had intensified patrols across the country and called on Kenyans to be alert.

“We are aware of terror threats against this country by people seeking to destroy our economy and political stability,” he said.

The IG spoke at the Anti-stock theft unit (ASTU) in Gilgil during the national shooting competition.

At the Coast, tourism stakeholders warned that the latest advisories would cause immense damage to the sector. They said the wording of the UK advisories means the entire Coast is an off-limit area.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (Kahc) Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye said Saturday that tourism remains in recession for the third year due to multiple factors, including insecurity.

“These latest negative reviews including Tiwi, Mombasa island and Moi International Airport including transit through the airport is obviously very sad news, especially when we were expecting them to do the opposite,” Ikwaye said in a statement.

Ikwaye explained that owing to constant advisories, there has been booking cancellations and tremendous drop in forward bookings compared to previous years.

Kenya Safari Lodges & Hotels (KSLH) General Manager Silas Kiti regretted that the industry was still on its knees.

“Again, the April holidays are here with us, and we are banking on local occupancy to boost our survival. The high season that starts in July-August will be badly affected with such kind of travel advice,” Kiti said.

However, a veteran tourism consultant and hospitality expert, Prof Wolfgang Thome who is based in Kampala, said the UK could be retaliating with the travel advisories after Kenya refused to renew a troop training deal with London.

“Could it be that the UK is retaliating,” posed Wolfgang. Wolfgang said the region should stand together to counter negative publicity.

Saturday, Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery assured Kenyans security organs would work tirelessly to secure the nation. “We are shocked and concerned at the latest advisories given by our friends from the international community. As government we strongly believe that these advisories are driven by considerations other that security.”

—By Philip Mwakio, Shamlal Puri, Anthony Gitonga and Brigid Chemweno