Nyali Beach
Nyali Beach in Mombasa, popular tourist attraction
Kenya has criticised Britain, the United States, France and Australia for issuing warnings about travelling to the east African country and particularly its main port city Mombasa as a result of a series of attacks there and around the country.
Britain's Foreign Office told its citizens to avoid travel to Mombasa and the surrounding area because of "recent terrorist attacks and the continuing terrorist threat in the area."
The U.S. Embassy warned its citizens of the continued threat of "potential terrorist attacks in the country," citing targets includes hotels, nightclubs and malls.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho described the alerts as "unfriendly", saying they would increase panic and play into the hands of those behind the gun and grenade attacks.
Recent bomb blasts in the capital Nairobi and Mombasa, as well as other attacks, have been blamed on the al Qaeda-linked Somali group Al Shabaab.
The Islamist movement killed at least 67 people including foreigners in a raid on a Nairobi shopping mall last September, saying it was in revenge for attacks on its fighters by Kenyan troops in Somalia.
The warnings could add further damage to Kenya's tourism sector, that’s already "on its knees", according to President Uhuru Kenyatta, following the raids in the capital and along the Indian Ocean coastline.
Kibicho assured visitors that they should not be afraid of visiting the country. He noted, “Visitors are assured utmost security and safety when in Kenya”.