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Africa / Airports
Tourists stranded in Kenya
By Doug Newhouse, 2 January 2008
Thousands of tourists are literally stranded in Kenya after being advised to stay in their hotels amidst the post-election violence that has claimed 300 deaths. Those that need to return to the main airports for flights home are either receiving armed police escorts, or are being advised to stay put until the situation becomes less dangerous.
Prominent amongst these tourists are approximately 7,000 British nationals, with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advising all of them - plus the 12,000 British residents permanently based in Kenya - to avoid unnecessary travel within - and to - Nairobi or Mombasa.
Most of these tourists are located in areas that are outside of the main cities, but it is the travelling to and from the main airports of Nairobi and Mombasa that is not safe, with gangs stopping cars at roadblocks and looting and violence very prevalent.
While flights to and from Kenya's two main airports are said to be operating normally, this may change as hotels fill up and staff shortages increase. Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is located some 15km from Nairobi's Central Business District and Mombasa's Moi International Airport is a 10km distance from Mombasa - and 16km from Nairobi.
In its latest bulletin this morning. the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) warns of 'continuing serious unrest' in the country: "We now advise against all but essential travel to the urban centres of Kisumu, Kakamega, Kericho, Eldore; to the Kisauni Likoni and Tiwi areas around Mombasa; and to rural areas between Nakuru and Eldoret and around Kericho in the Rift Valley. We also advise against all but essential travel to Nairobi city centre, Uhuru Park and the, Kibera, Mathare, and Eastleigh areas of Nairobi.
"National security forces have been deployed across the country to the main trouble spots. There is a heavy police presence in central Nairobi. Tour operators in the Mombasa area are working with the Tourist Police Unit who are providing escorts to and from Moi International Airport for tour groups. A 6pm to 6am curfew has been imposed in Kisumu town. The situation is fluid and we are updating our travel advice regularly.
"There is a high threat from terrorism in Kenya. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Previous attacks have included a bomb attack on an hotel which resulted in significant loss of life, and an unsuccessful attempt to bring down a civilian airliner in Mombasa. These attacks took place in the month leading up to the last Parliamentary and Presidential elections in Kenya."
By Doug Newhouse, 2 January 2008
Thousands of tourists are literally stranded in Kenya after being advised to stay in their hotels amidst the post-election violence that has claimed 300 deaths. Those that need to return to the main airports for flights home are either receiving armed police escorts, or are being advised to stay put until the situation becomes less dangerous.
Prominent amongst these tourists are approximately 7,000 British nationals, with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advising all of them - plus the 12,000 British residents permanently based in Kenya - to avoid unnecessary travel within - and to - Nairobi or Mombasa.
Most of these tourists are located in areas that are outside of the main cities, but it is the travelling to and from the main airports of Nairobi and Mombasa that is not safe, with gangs stopping cars at roadblocks and looting and violence very prevalent.
While flights to and from Kenya's two main airports are said to be operating normally, this may change as hotels fill up and staff shortages increase. Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is located some 15km from Nairobi's Central Business District and Mombasa's Moi International Airport is a 10km distance from Mombasa - and 16km from Nairobi.
In its latest bulletin this morning. the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) warns of 'continuing serious unrest' in the country: "We now advise against all but essential travel to the urban centres of Kisumu, Kakamega, Kericho, Eldore; to the Kisauni Likoni and Tiwi areas around Mombasa; and to rural areas between Nakuru and Eldoret and around Kericho in the Rift Valley. We also advise against all but essential travel to Nairobi city centre, Uhuru Park and the, Kibera, Mathare, and Eastleigh areas of Nairobi.
"National security forces have been deployed across the country to the main trouble spots. There is a heavy police presence in central Nairobi. Tour operators in the Mombasa area are working with the Tourist Police Unit who are providing escorts to and from Moi International Airport for tour groups. A 6pm to 6am curfew has been imposed in Kisumu town. The situation is fluid and we are updating our travel advice regularly.
"There is a high threat from terrorism in Kenya. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Previous attacks have included a bomb attack on an hotel which resulted in significant loss of life, and an unsuccessful attempt to bring down a civilian airliner in Mombasa. These attacks took place in the month leading up to the last Parliamentary and Presidential elections in Kenya."
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