Security heightened in Mombasa as high tourist season sets in

Tourists at Whitesands Beach Resort in Mombasa. The government has assured local and international visitors to Mombasa County of adequate security as the high tourist season begins in July. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • At the Likoni channel, the commissioner said, ferries will now be given armed escort as part of measures to prevent terror attacks.
  • He ordered that all vehicles be screened before being allowed into the ferries to avert attacks or transportation of deadly weapons.
  • Mr Maalim directed hotels, supermarkets and busy outlets to search all vehicles including those with GK, parastaral and UN registration number plates before allowing them in to avoid attacks.

The government has assured local and international visitors to Mombasa County of adequate security as the high tourist season begins in July.

The assurance comes a week after the National Police Service issued a terror alert calling on Kenyans to be extra vigilant and report suspicious characters to the security agencies for action.

The police warned that Al-Shabaab terrorists of Kenyan origin, who trained in Somalia and were now returning into the country, might have sneaked into towns such as Mombasa, Malindi and Nairobi.

Mombasa County Commissioner Mohamed Maalim Sunday said the government had heightened security in Mombasa Town and across the county to safeguard locals, visitors and property.

He added that the government had intensified security on vital installations such as Moi International Airport, the Likoni crossing channel, beaches, hotels, shopping malls and places of worship to prevent attacks.

Mr Maalim said the government had deployed both uniformed and civilian police officers in Mombasa Town and its outskirts to protect people and property against terrorism and general crime.

At the Likoni channel, the commissioner said, ferries will now be given armed escort as part of measures to prevent terror attacks.

He ordered that all vehicles be screened before being allowed into the ferries to avert attacks or transportation of deadly weapons.

SEARCH VEHICLES AT LIKONI CHANNEL

“Last week, I went to the channel just like an ordinary person and I discovered that the security agents don’t search vehicles before allowing them into the ferries,” he said.

“This is dangerous. The security officers must search both people and vehicles for the safety of ferry users,” he added.

On the beaches, including the popular Jomo Kenyatta public beach, he said, tourist police and Kenya Wildlife Service rangers would enhance patrols to accord protection to beachgoers.

Mr Maalim directed hotels, supermarkets and busy outlets to search all vehicles including those with GK, parastaral and UN registration number plates before allowing them in to avoid attacks.

“Nowadays, Al-Shabaab attackers use vehicles with GK and UN number plates to evade police dragnets and therefore guards must screen all vehicles before they get into hotels and malls,” he said.

He went on: “Every person must be subjected to body search irrespective of his or her status in society to prevent terror attacks.”

At the same time, the commissioner said his security team would meet with private security firms’ owners to brief them on what is expected from them as part of measures to make Mombasa more secure.

He noted that majority of the guards lacked basic security knowledge, adding that there was need for them to get training to be able secure hotels, shopping malls and other businesses.

“I have discovered that most of the guards are just villagers, who don’t have security skills thereby posing a risk to the businesses they are guarding,” he said.