Hoteliers at the coast have condemned the recent Bamburi gang attack by the outlawed WakaliKwanza gang. The attacks have come at the onset of the Peak season which poses a risk to the region’s all-important tourism industry.
Coast Working Group Chairman and PrideInn Managing Director Mr. Hasnain Noorani said hoteliers are not ready to see this group disrupt businesses in Mombasa particularly at this time when they are receiving good number of bookings from Western countries’ holiday makers. “We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the heinous attacks in Bamburi. We unequivocally condemn all acts, methods and practices of the attack, which cannot be justified under any circumstances, regardless of their motivation, wherever and by whomsoever committed these crimes,” said Hasnain Noorani.
The Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) also condemned the attacks. KAHC Coast Branch Executive Director Sam Ikwaye said the Government should do everything to fight such terror gangs.”No one wants to visit an area that is prone to violence. It is high time government agencies put their feet down and ensured security was beefed up and culprits brought to book,” Mr Ikwaye said.
The Bamburi night attack which took place on Monday August 5, 2019 left 8 people seriously injured around Lake View area of Bamburi, Nyali constituency. The criminal gang comprised at least 30 youths.
The hotel lobby groups have called for the launch of a coordinated security campaign, involving all national and local agencies to crack down on the illegal gang which is reportedly responsible for the attack.
Domestic terrorism creates a feeling of vulnerability in the region where the attacks are recurrent causing a broader economic impact.
“This sense of vulnerability is particularly damaging to the travel and hospitality industry because holiday makers always have a choice of visiting destinations which are less terror prone,” added Noorani.
