Lobby faults pull out of US peace corps

Kenyan tourism investors have described the US decision to withdraw its Peace Corps in the country as an overreaction aimed at painting the popular tourist destination in bad light.

Kenya Coast Tourism Association chairman Mohammed Hersi said the US, in issuing travel advisories, has been using every available opportunity to stop its citizens from visiting the country and as a result, affecting crippling tourism.

Last Thursday, the Peace Corps and State Department announced its decision to suspend its work in Kenya because of security concerns and is pulling out more than 50 volunteers from the country.

This, they said, is “until threat levels decrease.”

The Peace Corps is made up of volunteers who work under the US government which encourages its citizens to understand the cultures of other countries, while offering technical assistance in fields such as education, agriculture and information technology.

A Peace Corps Volunteer works abroad for about two years after training on the area of expertise.

Mr Hersi told Nation that the US had over-reacted in the Kenyan situation compared to how it acted other countries.

“I took the liberty to look at a report posted on their website and I could see that based on their own statistics, the move was an overreaction. Asking them to leave is totally wrong,” he said.

He added that Peace Corps do not “bring much to the business” and that such a statement was only aimed at giving the country bad publicity.

“If the country is not safe for the Peace Corps, then why are their multinationals still here? The business community should stand together and talk about this,” Mr Hersi said on phone.