Kenya tourism officials are working diligently to ensure the safety and security of visitors to the country. In order to keep the traveling public up-to-date on the situation on ground in Kenya, we are sending out continual updates on the current state of affairs within the country with regard to the tourism infrastructure.
Monday 14th January 2008: Security Update: 3.00 p.m.
Yesterday was another calm and normal day in Nairobi and Mombasa with no problems or incidents reported. Once again there were no reports of any insecurity or problems affecting tourists in any of Kenya’s parks and reserves or on any of the roads connecting them.
Today continues to be a normal day in Nairobi, Mombasa and the wildlife parks and reserves, with no reports of any problems in any of these areas or the connecting roads.
Schools re-opened throughout most of Kenya today – a further indication of normality returning.
Parliament will be opening tomorrow and there may be some closures of roads during the ceremony while a strengthened police presence is to be expected. The Kenya Tourism Federation will be monitoring the situation tomorrow in order to keep local tour operators informed in case detours are required to avoid delays for clients on airport transfers.
In view of the continuing calm in the areas frequented by tourists, we hope that those governments which placed blanket travel advisories on Kenya will be revising them without further delay and we have received some positive indications that, if the present situation of calm is maintained, then the advisories will be re-worded. The US government has not placed a “non-essential travel” warning on the whole of Kenya but has indicated those places to be avoided (in the Kisumu-Kericho-Eldoret areas) and it is to be hoped that the other countries will follow this approach.
Saturday 12 January 2008: Security Update 10.00 p.m.
Today was another normal day in Nairobi and Mombasa with no problems or incidents reported.
There were no reports of any insecurity or problems affecting tourists in any of Kenya’s parks and reserves or on any of the roads connecting them.
There were no reports today of any demonstrations or violent disturbances elsewhere in the country but inter-ethnic tensions remain in the area around Kericho in the Western corner of Kenya, which on the advice of the Kenya Tourism Federation remains off-limits to tourists.
The main opposition party has confirmed that they will hold rallies in different parts of the country on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week but have issued assurances that that these are intended to be peaceful.
Friday 11 January 2008: Security Update 10.30 p.m.
Today was another entirely normal day in Nairobi and Mombasa with no problems or incidents reported. There were also no reports of any incidents or problems affecting tourists in any of Kenya’s parks and reserves or on any of the roads connecting them. There were no reports today of any demonstrations or violent disturbances elsewhere in the country.
Talks between the government and the opposition have not been held today as originally planned but both sides confirmed their call to all their supporters to shun violence and to be committed to maintaining peace. Former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, is expected to arrive in Nairobi next week to assist in seeking a reconciliation between the two parties. Parliament will be opened on Tuesday. The opposition have announced that they will hold peaceful rallies in different parts of the country on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Tour operators will ensure that tourist vehicles avoid any rallies and demonstrations but the organizers have stressed that these are intended to be peaceful assemblies.
