WEDNESDAY 6TH FEBRUARY 2008: SECURITY UPDATE

Political update
The two teams selected by the government and opposition to represent both sides in discussing a solution to the political dispute have been increased to 4 persons on each side, with Mr Annan as mediator backed by a team of “Eminent Africans” including Graca Machel and the former President of Tanzania.

Today the meeting continued seeking to arrive at a solution, with agreement that the first objective is to secure an end to violence. The government has confirmed that the ban on live broadcasts by politicians has been lifted, citing the recent improvement in security.

Security situation in Kenya
The security situation throughout Kenya was again reported to be calm including in those areas in the western corner of Kenya which have recently experienced ethnic clashes and violent disturbances. No reports were received of post-election violence anywhere in the country today.

In the tourist areas all continues calm and unchanged with no problems reported affecting any tourist visitors to the international hotels in Nairobi, the beach resorts at the coast and the wildlife parks and reserves.

Mombasa and the coast: Mombasa town continues to be calm and peaceful and it is peaceful throughout the coast province. The British government has now lifted its advisory on Mombasa with effect from today in view of the improved security situation.

The route to the Mara past Narok town continues to be used by tourist vehicles without any problems reported. The Senior Warden for Masai Mara National Reserve has also confirmed that security patrols have been put in place both on the approach to and exit from Narok town as an additional measure to ensure the safety of tourists.

Naivasha and Nakuru: Tourist vehicles continue travelling to Lake Naivasha, through Naivasha town and onwards to Lake Nakuru National Park. Throughout the past four weeks Lake Nakuru National Park has remained secure and safe for visitors with KWS rangers on duty to patrol the park. The media visited Nakuru town today and local TV showed interviews by well-known newsman Jeff Koinange with people in Nakuru on the streets and in shops to confirm that life had returned to normal and that local residents had vowed to forget their differences and to live together.

Areas to avoid
The Kenya Tourism Federation continues to monitor the security situation to ensure that any areas considered unsafe for tourists are avoided. While the beach resorts, the safari circuit, the airports in Nairobi and the highways between them to the Nairobi international hotels are considered safe for visitors at the present time, the following areas continue to be off-limits for tourists until further notice.

Western Kenya: The Kenya Tourism Federation continues to recommend that for the time being visitors should avoid the following areas where there have been sporadic incidents of civil unrest in recent weeks. Nyanza Province, Western Province, and the western area of Rift Valley Province including roads to the north of Narok to Bomet, Sotik and Njoro, the areas surrounding Kericho, Molo, Londiani, Nandi Hills and Eldoret.

These places are not normally visited by tourists and members of the Kenya Association of Tour Operators have avoided the whole area since the onset of the post-election problems. Currently the situation in most of these places is reported to be calm but in recent weeks there have been frequent disturbances and civil unrest in Kisumu and in the areas around Kericho and Eldoret.

For visitors to Nairobi it is recommended that the high density housing estates and slums should be avoided, including Eastleigh, Mathare, Huruma, and Kibera but tourists have always been advised to keep away from these areas.

Kenya Tourist Board, Kenya Tourism Federation