Uhuru takes train ride to Coast as cruise ship docks

Tourists who arrived at the port of Mombasa aboard Ms Nautica cruise liner disembark soon after the ship docked yesterday. [Gideon Maundu, Standard]

Mombasa got into the Christmas spirit yesterday with the arrival of a cruise liner with close to 1,000 foreign tourists.

Ms Nautica, a Norwegian-owned cruise ship, is a regular caller at the Port of Mombasa. It arrived from Port Victoria in Seychelles on its Indian Ocean cruise voyage.

And President Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in Mombasa yesterday for Christmas celebrations. The President rode on the SGR train from Nairobi.

Mombasa, Diani and other coastal towns like Malindi and Watamu have registered a boom, with hotels recording almost 100 per cent bed occupancy since the beginning of this month.

“We are glad that President Uhuru Kenyatta, out of his busy schedule, can find time to come and relax in our midst. It is an acknowledgment that Mombasa is the most popular Kenyan holiday destination,” said Deniss Gwaro, general manager of three-star Plaza Beach Hotel, Bamburi, in north Coast.

A multi-agency team has been set up in Kwale County to beef up security this festive season.

The team comprising Anti-Terrorism Police, Tourist Police Unit, regular police, Administration Police and National Intelligence Service officers will be on high alert.

Kwale County AP Commander David Kosgei yesterday told The Standard on phone that the joint team will tackle insecurity in the region.

The AP boss also noted that all the hotels, business premises and other social joints are under tight surveillance.

Police in Likoni, Mombasa County, have mapped out 11 areas of insecurity.

Each zone will be under a chief inspector of police with at least 15 special team of officers for patrol.

“We have mapped out all the areas we suspect there are criminal gangs hiding,” said Likoni police chief Benjamin Rotich.

His Kisauni counterpart Sangura Msee said patrols have been intensified in areas prone to insecurity.

The police boss noted enough officers had been deployed to offer security in the area.

“It is now the third week and we haven’t received reports on any major incidents. This is because of new ways we have devised to deal with those destabilising security,” said Msee.

Good season

Kenya Ports Authority Principal Corporate Communication Officer Haji Masemo, who represented Managing Director Arch Daniel Manduku, said they were excited at the early prospects of a good tourism season with the arrival of Ms Nautica.

“This visit signifies increased interest in the Port of Mombasa and what we have to offer as a world class tourism destination,” he said.

Speaking separately, Mombasa County Chief Officer for Tourism Innocent Mugabe said cruise tourism plays a significant role in Mombasa.

Ms Nautica is expected to make a return trip to the Port of Mombasa later in February next year. Other cruise ships expected next year are Seaborne Cruise in February, while Silver Whispers is expected in April.