Kenya to sponsor holiday for harassed US tourist and family

The government has promised to sponsor a fully-paid holiday for the family of the 15-year old US tourist who was reportedly harassed and branded a terrorist by a police officer along Mombasa Highway at Mlolongo area, Nairobi.

Interior cabinet secretary revealed the officer was searching the family when he later asked the female tourist she had looks like those of wanted terrorist Samantha Lewthwaite popularly known as the White Widow.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku asked police authorities to investigate the matter and take necessary action on the officer.

He also asked the chair of the Task Force on Tourism Recovery Ms Lucu Karume to follow up on the matter with the US Embassy and the tourists’ family. Details on the said harassment were not available.

Lenku was reacting to claims that police have been harassing tourists and brandingthem terrorists. Already some of the victims have reported the matter to authorities. Police are currently conducting operations to tame terror threats.

Lenku also assured stakeholders in the tourism industry the Government has taken adequate and concrete steps to ensure that there is sufficient security for the sector.

He said his ministry had mapped out tourism sites, installations and facilities for purposes of distributing security personnel in such areas.

he minister said the sector was a very sensitive industry and perceptions of insecurity could easily erode international confidence of Kenya as a safe and security tourists’ destination.

“I can assure you that I will do everything in power to ensure that all your security concerns are addressed by the country’s security agencies so that we do not kill the goose that lays the golden egg,” said Lenku.

Lenku was speaking when he met members of the Task Force on Tourism Recovery at his Harambee House office .

The group was led by Ms Karume who also chairs the Kenya Tourism Foundation (KTF).

Other members who accompanied her included Mr Cecil Miller, the chair of Task Force Security Committee, members Roberto Marini, Richard Corcoran and Nicholas Bodo.

Lenku said security had been revamped at all airports, airstrips and ferries across the country.

He said his ministry in conjunction with the ministry of foreign affairs had created a system through which regularupdates and briefs were provided to foreign missions in the country on security issues.

Lenku was accompanied by police boss David Kimaiyo, the Secretary in charge of Internal Security Mr Joseph Irungu and the Officer in Charge of Tourist Police Unit (TPU) Ms Jostine Barmao.

Kimaiyo said the number of police officers exclusively dedicated to tourism will be increased and that TPU will equipped with modern vehicles and technology to enhance the unit’s capacity.

“We are aware of the challenges facing TPU and I can assure tourism stakeholders that we are addressing these challenges to enhance capacity and visibility of TPU in Nairobi, Mombasa and other parts of the country that form the Tourism Circuit,” explained Kimaiyo.

Reacting to concerns that the Tourist Police Unit has been losing trained and dedicated officers to other police units to take action to address their concerns.

-THE STANDARD