Kenya beefs up security ahead of Easter holiday in Mombasa

Wednesday, April 16, 2014
By Joy Nabukewa and Chris Mgidu

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MOMBASA, Kenya, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Security has been beefed up in the coastal city of Mombasa ahead of the Easter holiday in the wake of terror threats.

Mombasa County commander Robert Kitur announced elaborate security measures on counter terrorism efforts set up by security agencies to ensure that foreign visitors who will be arriving in the tourism resort city are safe.

"We have increased the number of police officers patrolling in plain clothes and police patrol vehicles to enhance security and to preempt any possible terror plot," Kitur told Xinhua in Mombasa on Wednesday.
Kitur said officers from security forces have been deployed to secure key installation areas within the county. He reassured both domestic and foreign tourists of adequate security measures.

He said officers have been deployed along the beaches, hotels, shopping mall and crowded places to thwart any possible terror plot.

Kitur said security officers are patrolling all the avenues in the capital, including the backstreets, which have bore the brunt of terror attacks.

Terrorists have struck on the streets frequented by hundreds of people several times, killing several people and injuring scores others.

The East African nation has warned that attacks as threatened by the Somali-based terrorist group Al-Shabaab could affect the country's risk profile limiting the number of new investments being made especially by foreign investors.

Attacks could further affect the number of tourism visitors affecting the planned attraction of 3 million tourists targeted for 2015.

Already, some European countries have issued travel warnings for their citizens visiting Kenya, which has led the reduction in the number of tourists visiting the country.

Tourism is one of the main drivers of economic growth and earns Kenya over 1 billion U.S. dollars and provides employment to thousands of its citizens.

The attacks also slow the pace of doing business locally as local investors avoid or postpone none essential activities.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers (KAHC) CEO Sam Ikwaye said hotels at the Coast have shown a positive trend despite the recent security concerns in Mombasa," Ikwaye said hotels have so far recorded 70 percent occupancy.

"Majority of the booking comprises domestic, from Nairobi and various parts of the country that will be around for four days. This will greatly boost the sector," he said.

Ikwaye noted a drop in numbers of international tourists following a decline in charter flights received in the coastal region. He blamed lack of incentive from the government for the cause of drastic pullout of Charters lines from the region.

Ikwaye said charters flights contribute at least 70 percent of the country's tourism earning annually.

"We are urging the government to but up incentives among them giving airlines landing rights this will attract more foreign tourists and boost the tourism earnings," said Ikwaye.

He said the tourism sector holders are working with government security agencies to improve security at tourist hotels in the region. Ikwaye said most of those visiting the coastal city are domestic and regional tourists.

He said most of the hotels have installed security systems that include CCTV cameras, screening machines to ensure safety for the visitors.

The hotels have also hired armed and private guards to patrol along the beaches.

Moi International Airport manager Yatich Kangugo said security had been beefed up at the airport to safeguard both local and international passengers.

More police officers were also deployed at Likoni channel and securing a heavy duty scanning equipment to enhance security at the ferry where thousands of commuters and motorists use daily.

Kenya's tourism has suffered a decline the number of tourists arriving since September 2011 when the Somali militant group, the Al-Shabaab, carried out the kidnappings of tourists in the Lamu archipelago and the kidnapping of the Spanish volunteers.

The port city, the capital Nairobi and other parts of Kenya have suffered a series of grenade attacks since Kenya sent troops into Somalia last year to pursue Al-Shabaab insurgents it blames for a surge in violence and kidnappings threatening tourism.

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