Lawyer raises concerns over police laxity after intrusion at Diani resort

A city-based lawyer has raised concerns over what he terms as police laxity in arresting perpetrators who invaded a beach resort and attacked staff and visitors.

While calling on security apparatus to move swiftly after the attack incident at Pinewood Beach Resort in Diani Kwale County, lawyer Nick Ndeda said it is unfortunate that several days later only a handful have been arrested.

Ndeda who is representing the facility said it is unfortunate that several staff and international guests who were at the premises at the time of the incident were attacked, robbed of their valuables and property destroyed.

The lawyer said of the dozens of armed goons captured on the hotel's CCTV camera, only 13 were arrested but later released on police bond.

“Some of them (the attackers) are known…we still don’t know why they have not been brought to book,” the lawyer said adding, “We want to believe that investigations are still ongoing…we are also very keen to know who sent them.”

The hotel’s operations manager Changawa Mulewa said most staff members were still undergoing anxiety-related issues after the incident.

“Some are even fearing reporting to work,” he said.

Ndeda's remarks come after tourism stakeholders joined the growing calls for the arrest and prosecution of suspects who invaded the facility.

Drawn from the coastal region said more than a week after the incident happened, none of the suspects captured in the hotels' CCTV cameras have been arraigned in court, for a brutal daylight attack that left many injured, and property destroyed.

In a show of solidarity, the stakeholders under the auspices of Kenya Coast Tourist Association on Wednesday termed the incident linked to an attempted takeover of the hotel as primitive and barbaric.