The latest from Kenya....
"Kenya Situational Update as at 17.00 GMT Friday 18th January 2008
We feel sure that everyone is aware of events in Kenya over the last three weeks. It would be difficult to avoid the media coverage be it on TV, radio, the web or in newspapers. The intention with our daily statements is to give an overview of the situation within the main areas frequented by UK visitors to Kenya. Our aim, of course, is to promote tourism for the benefit of all our visitors and, most importantly, for the benefit of all Kenyans. In that connection we welcome today’s news (detailed in this bulletin) that there is no fresh call for demonstrations.
The situation remains the same in terms of Department of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel Advisories and we continue to receive updates from the private sector in Kenya on the situation.
o Following the opening of Parliament on Tuesday, rallies and demonstrations have been staged in some of the main cities of Kenya but, in the main, well away from the main tourist areas. These rallies have continued today but a public announcement this morning was made stating that they would end today (Friday). We shall continue to monitor the situation over the weekend. Therefore the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel Advisories are being constantly updated. These sites should be referred to frequently.
www.foreignaffairs.gov.ie
www.fco.gov.uk
o The scheduled carriers - British Airways is still operating their daily schedules as normal from London Heathrow to Nairobi and from Nairobi International Airport to London Heathrow. There have been some revisions to both the Virgin Atlantic Airways timetable (with passengers on occasional flights moved to other dates of travel or carriers) and Kenya Airways which may not operate certain day time flights but will continue to operate their daily evening departures. For details please contact the appropriate carrier. KLM (flying via Amsterdam) advise that there may be certain routing changes but its daily departures to Nairobi continue and Swiss services via Zurich and Brussels Airlines via Brussels also continue as normal.
o Some British operators have withdrawn from the weekly charter flown by Monarch Airlines and passengers are being placed on other carriers. The announcement states that the charter series will recommence in April
o All international flights continue to transit normally through Nairobi International Airport to onward destinations.
Today in Kenya
Friday 18th January 2008: Security Update: 7.00 p.m local time.
“As of now the reports we have received from around the country are as follows:
Mombasa and coast:
Demonstrations started after the Friday prayers and crowds of demonstrators across Mombasa were involved in skirmishes and confrontations with riot police. Tear gas was fired and police shot in the air to disperse the crowds. It was reported that one person had died and five were injured. By late afternoon calm had been restored. No tourists were caught up in the demonstrations as tour operators ensured that the areas where the demonstrations took place were avoided. The airports operated as normal.
Nairobi:
There were some skirmishes in the city centre and crowds were dispersed by the heavy police presence. Once again the slum areas of Nairobi at Kibera and Mathare were reported to have had violent confrontations between demonstrators and police with shots being fired. Reports have not yet been received of any injuries.
The Nairobi airports at Jomo Kenyatta International and Wilson operated as usual with no disruption to flights. A strong police presence ensured that the highways between the Nairobi hotels and the airports were kept open and the Kibera demonstrators did not move beyond the slum area. There were no reports of tourists being inconvenienced or affected by street demonstrations.
Up-country:
Narok: There were reports of further demonstrations in the town with crowds of opposition supporters confronting police. At least one person was reported to have been killed in fighting between rival groups.
Kisumu: It was reported that the level of disturbances decreased today.
The ODM leadership announced today that they would call off any further street protests from now on. This means that peace and calm should be restored quickly in the areas where violent demonstrations have been taking place over the last three days and it is expected that things will be back to normal soon. The tourism industry has been operating as usual throughout this period and the Kenya Tourism Federation 24 hour Safety & Communication Centre has been monitoring events throughout to ensure that tour operators are able to avoid any areas where demonstrations occur. ” Jake Grieves-Cook, KTF Spokesman"
"Kenya Situational Update as at 17.00 GMT Friday 18th January 2008
We feel sure that everyone is aware of events in Kenya over the last three weeks. It would be difficult to avoid the media coverage be it on TV, radio, the web or in newspapers. The intention with our daily statements is to give an overview of the situation within the main areas frequented by UK visitors to Kenya. Our aim, of course, is to promote tourism for the benefit of all our visitors and, most importantly, for the benefit of all Kenyans. In that connection we welcome today’s news (detailed in this bulletin) that there is no fresh call for demonstrations.
The situation remains the same in terms of Department of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel Advisories and we continue to receive updates from the private sector in Kenya on the situation.
o Following the opening of Parliament on Tuesday, rallies and demonstrations have been staged in some of the main cities of Kenya but, in the main, well away from the main tourist areas. These rallies have continued today but a public announcement this morning was made stating that they would end today (Friday). We shall continue to monitor the situation over the weekend. Therefore the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel Advisories are being constantly updated. These sites should be referred to frequently.
www.foreignaffairs.gov.ie
www.fco.gov.uk
o The scheduled carriers - British Airways is still operating their daily schedules as normal from London Heathrow to Nairobi and from Nairobi International Airport to London Heathrow. There have been some revisions to both the Virgin Atlantic Airways timetable (with passengers on occasional flights moved to other dates of travel or carriers) and Kenya Airways which may not operate certain day time flights but will continue to operate their daily evening departures. For details please contact the appropriate carrier. KLM (flying via Amsterdam) advise that there may be certain routing changes but its daily departures to Nairobi continue and Swiss services via Zurich and Brussels Airlines via Brussels also continue as normal.
o Some British operators have withdrawn from the weekly charter flown by Monarch Airlines and passengers are being placed on other carriers. The announcement states that the charter series will recommence in April
o All international flights continue to transit normally through Nairobi International Airport to onward destinations.
Today in Kenya
Friday 18th January 2008: Security Update: 7.00 p.m local time.
“As of now the reports we have received from around the country are as follows:
Mombasa and coast:
Demonstrations started after the Friday prayers and crowds of demonstrators across Mombasa were involved in skirmishes and confrontations with riot police. Tear gas was fired and police shot in the air to disperse the crowds. It was reported that one person had died and five were injured. By late afternoon calm had been restored. No tourists were caught up in the demonstrations as tour operators ensured that the areas where the demonstrations took place were avoided. The airports operated as normal.
Nairobi:
There were some skirmishes in the city centre and crowds were dispersed by the heavy police presence. Once again the slum areas of Nairobi at Kibera and Mathare were reported to have had violent confrontations between demonstrators and police with shots being fired. Reports have not yet been received of any injuries.
The Nairobi airports at Jomo Kenyatta International and Wilson operated as usual with no disruption to flights. A strong police presence ensured that the highways between the Nairobi hotels and the airports were kept open and the Kibera demonstrators did not move beyond the slum area. There were no reports of tourists being inconvenienced or affected by street demonstrations.
Up-country:
Narok: There were reports of further demonstrations in the town with crowds of opposition supporters confronting police. At least one person was reported to have been killed in fighting between rival groups.
Kisumu: It was reported that the level of disturbances decreased today.
The ODM leadership announced today that they would call off any further street protests from now on. This means that peace and calm should be restored quickly in the areas where violent demonstrations have been taking place over the last three days and it is expected that things will be back to normal soon. The tourism industry has been operating as usual throughout this period and the Kenya Tourism Federation 24 hour Safety & Communication Centre has been monitoring events throughout to ensure that tour operators are able to avoid any areas where demonstrations occur. ” Jake Grieves-Cook, KTF Spokesman"
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