Kenya

Kenya: Tourist Resort Attacked on Eve of Election

Date: February 27th, 2013 |

An Italian tourist was shot and hospitalized when a gang of masked men, armed with guns and machetes, attacked a coastal resort near Malindi Feb. 20. On the eve of the country’s general election, scheduled for Mar. 4, experts warn that tensions are running high, and tourists may be swept up in local protests or [read more]

Kenya: Locals Armed to Help Stop Elephant Poachers

Date: January 2nd, 2013 |

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Faced with the decimation of their remaining elephants—and arguably, their nation’s largest tourist attraction—the government is supporting a grassroots anti-poaching program that trains and arms groups of local men, including some former poachers. The black market price of ivory has soared in Asia over the last decade, driving Kenya’s worst poaching crisis since 1989. Many [read more]

Kenya: Increased Violence Prompts Travel Warning Update

Date: July 12th, 2012 |

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A surge in violent crime and terrorist threats has prompted the U.S. Department of State to issue an updated travel warning that restricts official travel for government employees and advises private citizens to avoid travel in Kenya until the security situation improves. The alert follows a bombing assault on two churches in Garissa July 1, [read more]

Kenya: Bandits Kill Tourist in Masai Mara Camp

Date: July 28th, 2010 |

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Bandits attacked a tourist tent camp in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, killing one and wounding two but reportedly escaping without obtaining any valuables. Authorities launched a major security operation involving 100 police, sniffer dogs and two aircraft to track down the assailants. The attack took place at a resort in the Mara Triangle, the [read more]

Kenya: Peace Corps Back in Kenya

Date: August 27th, 2008 |

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The temporary suspension of the U.S. Peace Corps program in Kenya has been lifted and volunteers are now back in the country. The program was suspended during unrest surrounding the disputed presidential election in December that was finally resolved by a power-sharing agreement signed on Feb. 28. Both parties are adhering to the terms of [read more]

Kenya: U.S. Issues Updated Travel Warning

Date: January 20th, 2013 |

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The U.S. State Dept. has updated its travel warning for Kenya as of Jan. 14. U.S. citizens are being advised of recently heightened threats from violent crime and terrorism in some parts of the country, including bombings, kidnappings and potential threats to civil aviation and maritime ports. Since Kenya formally aligned with the African Union [read more]

Kenya: Security Issues Blamed for Tourism Slump

Date: October 17th, 2012 |

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Tourism to once popular coastal resorts has dropped significantly in 2012, worrying some officials that ongoing Islamist threats may be scaring Westerners away. The rising cost of entry may be another factor, leading to fewer ships in Kenya’s ports and cancellations of charter flights. However, security issues are seen as the most likely deterrent for [read more]

Kenya: Terrorist Threat to Hotels and Shopping Centers

Date: March 2nd, 2011 |

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The Kenyan police commissioner issued a terror warning for shopping centers and hotels, citing threats from a Somali militant group with ties to al-Qaeda known as al-Shabaab. The group is responsible for the attack in Uganda’s capital Kampala that left 76 dead during the World Cup. Travelers should be aware of heightened security in public [read more]

East Africa: Single Tourist Visa Will Cover Five Countries

Date: April 1st, 2009 |

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Five countries in East Africa have agreed to issue a single tourist visa for travel throughout the region. The new visa will allow tourists to move freely among the member countries of the East African Community: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The group is setting a common code of conduct for tour operators, establishing [read more]

Kenya: U.S. State Department Softens Travel Warning

Date: March 26th, 2008 |

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The U.S. State Department has softened its warning about travel to Kenya following the widely-accepted power-sharing agreement signed Feb. 28 to resolve the disputed presidential election of Dec. 27. The current travel warning says “threats of political demonstrations and violence have dramatically receded” and U.S. government personnel and their families are now permitted to return [read more]

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