A staff member walks along the poolside at Mombasa Beach Hotel on March 9, 2015. The tourism sector has continued to decline due to insecurity.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
A US state senator has criticised the travel advisories imposed against Kenya by Western countries.
South Dakota State Senator Craig Tieszen said on Tuesday terrorism threats and attacks are a global problem and not isolated to Kenya.
He said all countries must work together to fight the terrorism threat.
The assertion comes ahead of the planned visit to Kenya by US President Barack Obama in July.
“Kenya is safe for tourists from across the world to visit. I have been around for two weeks visiting families and my former students in Bomet and Kericho counties and I can assure everyone out there that the rural parts of Kenya are safe,” Mr Tieszen said.
He said many Americans rely on the travel advisories because they are ignorant about the security situation in Kenya.
“I was here when the tragic terrorism attack occurred in Garissa where 148 people died. But you can see I am safe. I have been living among friends and moving around freely,” said the senator when he paid a courtesy call on Bomet Deputy Governor Stephen Mutai at the county headquarters.
He also visited the Bomet County Assembly and county education offices.
“Every country in the world has its safe zones and areas which are prone to terrorism. I would advise tourists to visit rural Kenya like Bomet and Kericho,” he said.
PRIVATE VISIT
Mr Tieszen, who was a teacher at Litein Boys High School between 1971 and 1975, said he was on a private visit to the country with his wife Debrah to see his former students.
“I have been to West Pokot and Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Narok County and the sceneries are breath-taking. Kericho and Bomet should tap into the tourism circuit as it has a great potential to attract thousands of foreigners for investments and tourism,” he said.
The senator called on Kenyans and the leadership to fully embrace devolution, saying the impact was already being felt in the grassroots.
“It is important for Kenyans to fully acquaint themselves with devolution and support it for the general good of the people at the grassroots,” Mr Tieszen said.
For his part, Mr Mutai praised the US government for the programmes it was undertaking in Bomet, especially on design and development of the county strategic investments plan, value addition of food crops, implementing water projects and capacity building of staff.
“The county has created an enabling environment for investments and we are inviting businessmen from the US to invest in the hospitality industry and agribusiness,” he said.