FO advises against travel to Lamu following new attack
The Foreign Office has now increased its no-go areas on the coast of Kenya, near Somalia to include Lamu, following two attacks on westerners.
It advises against all but essential travel to coastal areas within 150km (93 miles) of the Somali border. It previously advised against travel within 60km.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said there were 'possibly copycat kidnappings' taking place, after a French woman was taken by gunmen on Saturday.
It came a month after a British woman was kidnapped and her husband killed.
In the first attack, gunmen shot Briton David Tebbutt and kidnapped his wife Judith from Kiwayu Village resort.
The resorts of Lamu are now off limits but resorts further south like Watamu are still deemed to be safe.
“The Foreign Office has worked it out very carefully and has a duty of care. We would advise our members against sending clients there.
“We have quite a few members in Lamu which is a shame as it is very beautiful and a World Heritage Site but is out of bounds for UK tourism,” said managing director of the African Travel and Tourism Association, Nigel Vere Nicoll.
“The resorts further south like Watamu are fine. We have no concern about the main tourism beaches in Kenya. The areas at risk are the remote Robinson Crusoe type places frequented by high-end UK tourists.”
ATTA is creating a self assessment tool for its members on maritime risk.
William Hague told Sky news: "Clearly, we are worried about the situation there. There is the case of Mrs Tebbutt that we are trying to deal with as best we can.
"But now we are seeing possibly copycat kidnappings taking place. That is very alarming.
"It is sad, and we are working with the Kenyan authorities and urging them to improve security in any way they can.”
The Foreign Office advice states: "We now advise against all but essential travel to within 150km of the Kenya-Somalia border, including along the coast strip north of Pate Island towards Somali waters.
"Both attacks were on beach-front properties, with two Westerners kidnapped and one murdered. Beach-front accommodation in that area and boats off the coast are vulnerable.
"The advice is kept under constant review in the light of the situation on the ground."
The French woman was kidnapped from her bungalow at Ras Kitau by an armed gang on Kenya's northern resort island of Manda and also taken to Somalia, Kenyan officials said.
It is reported that al-Shabab has not previously seized foreigners far from its own territory, while the numerous pirate gangs in the area normally kidnap ships and their crew for ransom rather than operating on land.
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