Tourism CS Najib Balala has assured tourists of their safety ahead of polls [Photo/nation.co.ke]
Tourism Cabinet Secretary (CS) Najib Balala has assured tourists planing to visit the Coast region and other parts of the country that their safety is guaranteed even as the country heads to the August 8th general election.
Balala says that tourists visiting the country this electioneering period should not fear.
In an interview with the Daily Nation, the Tourism CS said that there is nothing for tourists and investors to fear about stating that the August 8th polls will be peaceful.
Balala stated that the government has put in place adequate security mechanisms to guarantee security before, during and after the August polls.
“We want to assure tourists already in the country and those planning to visit in the coming months that their security has been taken care of and they have nothing to fear,” he said as quoted by the Daily Nation.
He said that the country is politically stable adding that various security agencies are working around the clock to ensure peaceful polls.
The CS said that the country is approaching a peak season for tourists.
“We are expecting the number of tourists to increase as we approach August which is also an election period,” the CS said.
Balala at the same time asked hoteliers to work with the government to ensure safety of visitors.
According to hotelier expert Cecilia Muthoni, the county’s security and peace stability ahead of the August polls has given tourists confidence.
“The government has done a good job in terms of security but has to do more as we approach August 8,' she said.
She said that the tourism and hotel sector will not crumble this election period as the case has been in previous election years.
On Wednesday, Coast regional coordinator Nelson Marwa said that security has been tightened. Marwa said that police are on alert and will not tolerate trouble makers as the country heads to the polls.