Wednesday, October 05, 2011
The emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeting reportedly considered positioning the Kenya Navy in the area to counter attacks believed to be waged by al Shabaab militants from war-torn Somalia.
The meeting came as the tourism sector started feeling the effects of the attacks on two resorts in Lamu by Somali militants, with several Western nations issuing travel advisories to their citizens to keep off the Kenyan coast and urban slums.
UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned its citizens against travelling to parts of the Coast and Nairobi.
“We now advise against all but essential travel to coastal areas within 150km of the Kenya-Somalia border.
“This includes the Lamu area. We also advise against all but essential travel to low income areas of Nairobi, including all township or slum areas,” read the advisory posted on UK Government’s official
Workers sent home
Last Saturday, French woman Marie Dedieu was abducted at her cottage on Manda Island, while Mrs Judith Tebutt, a Briton, was seized last month and her husband, David, shot dead at the exclusive Kiwayu Safari Village Resort.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the attacks had adversely affected the tourism sector hence the decision to convene the NSC meeting.
“We know this will have very negative impact to tourism nationally. Tourism is one of the key drivers of our economy so it is an issue we are taking very seriously.
“A number of countries have now issued advisories to the tourists to move away or to desist from going towards Lamu,” Mr Odinga said.
Kiwayu Resort was shut down indefinitely and more than half of its 120 staff sent on leave following the attack.
Some of them told Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere, who visited the hotel on Tuesday, that the closure followed cancellation of bookings.
Mr Odinga said the meeting also discussed whether to form a special unit to fight the new security threat and how to position the Kenya Navy in the area to check the militants.
The NSC comprises the President, PM (on invitation), Chief of the Kenya Defence Force, director of intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Defence ministers and Head of Public Service.