Sunday, October 02, 2011
Tourism Minister Najib Balala said Saturday's high-seas standoff that took place near Kenya's border with Somalia, where the militia was firing into the air in an attempt to scare off the vessels was a point of concern for Kenya's burgeoning tourism sector.
"Such attacks could ultimately hurt the country's tourism sector if the Kenya government did not act quickly to avert the situation" Mr. Balala said.
He said the French woman was still alive following surveillance by the Kenyan Navy, which had surrounded the boat.
Mr. Balala affirmed that French woman was still alive and that she was being held by four gun men who hijacked her along the border point of Somali.
He further said that the Kenya Navy will send a security team inside Somali to rescue the woman, in an effort to curb cases of attacks from Somali which are now posing a security threat to the country and more specifically the Kenya's premier tourist hub of Lamu.
The tourism minister also asked the United Nations to help in coming up with long term solutions that will help resolve the Somali militia situation that was menacingly destabilizing peace and security in the region.
Lamu residents have said the abduction appeared to have been a planned, targeted attack.
Resident said that the armed gang landed on Manda Island by boat and fired several gunshots as they raided the beach cottage where the Marie Dedidue Manrd, 66, was sleeping.
"The latest kidnapping if not dealt with expeditiously will deal a serious blow to Kenya's tourism sector, a major source of foreign exchange." Mohamed Hersi Sarova White Sands Managing Director has said, while speaking in a separate function.
He however said that the kidnapping incidences were isolated and that tourist's security is paramount, noting that the tourist police and other security agencies were up to the task to avert any further incidences at the Coast.