Brits warned to take extra care in Kenya over festive period
The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice to Kenya, calling on Brits to take extra care over the festive period, particularly in tourist destinations such as the coast.
The update is a response to warnings by the Kenyan authorities, which have called for a ‘higher level of vigilance’.
The FCO advice says: "There is a heightened threat of terrorist attacks in Nairobi and the coast and resort areas of Mombasa and Malindi. Be especially vigilant during the Christmas and New Year period, particularly in major tourist destinations such as the coast.
"The Inspector General of the Kenyan Police has called on the public to adopt a higher level of vigilance and report any suspicious people or activity straight away."
The FCO has not changed its advice on all but essential travel to certain areas of Kenya, which remains as follows:
"The area to which the FCO advise against all but essential travel does not include Kenya’s safari destinations in the national parks, reserves and wildlife conservancies; including the Aberdare National Park, Amboseli, Laikipia, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Meru, Mount Kenya, Samburu, Shimba Hills, Tsavo, nor does it include the beach resorts of Mombasa, Malindi, Kilifi, Watamu and Diani.
"Mombasa airport (Moi International Airport) and Malindi airport are not included in the area to which the FCO advise against all but essential travel."
The FCO advice said it remains the case that most visits to Kenya are ‘trouble free’.
It adds: "There is a high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping. The main threat comes from extremists linked to Al Shabaab, a militant group that has carried out attacks in Kenya in response to Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia.
"There have been a number of attacks in Kenya in recent years, particularly in Mandera County and other areas close to the Somali border.
"The Kenyan government has introduced a curfew in Mandera county from 6:30pm to 6:30am until 27 December, 2016."
By Charles Kao
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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