Kenya Safety Update

By admin at January 3, 2008 | 9:21 am | Print

I just wanted to put an update on the blog what we have received from one of our extremely reputable operators. Graeme Thomspon lives in Kenya with his young family. We are constantly monitoring the news and will keep you informed.

Message from Graeme:

Nairobi, Kenya
2nd January 2008

The situation after the elections was one of confusion and, at times, concern over the disturbances that
were happening around some of the suburbs of Nairobi and certain towns in the country areas.
Yes, there have been disturbances and sadly a number of deaths attributed to what the news media call
“Election violence.” Again, sadly a number of the deaths can be attributed to the disputed results from
the elections, although the greater number of incidents can be attributed to the rivalry between the
tribes from which the 2 main candidates come.

Mwai Kibaki, the incumbent President is from the predominant and industrious Kikuyu tribe and Raila
Odinga is from the Luo’s, who feel that they have been deprived from the power sharing situation since
independence.

The disturbances are mainly contained to a very small number of areas which are home to the mainly
poorer people of Kenya and are, in the main, tribal situations which can be easily avoided.
We currently have 8 trucks out on safari within the Kenyan region and we felt it necessary to re-route only
one of those trips via another overnight stop before proceeding onto Tanzania. This happened on the
31st of December 2007 when the disturbances were at there peak.

I have lived in Kenya for over 16 years, have a Kikuyu wife and we have a 1 year old boy. We live in a
suburb called Karen and we have offices in the city in Nairobi as well as workshops in a suburb of the city.
We have been in constant contact with our relatives in the country areas and they were amazed to hear
of the “problems” that were going on as the situation where they are, is very peaceful and normal.
We are, as are all companies that are involved in the tourism industry in Kenya, concerned about the
negative media coverage and feel that most of it is unwarranted.

We also feel that the advisories given out by the different government agencies, warning their citizens to
be careful, while fair are also, in my opinion, inflammatory in some ways.

I, for one, with a young family would not stay here in Kenya if I felt that the situation was in anyway dangerous.
I can assure you that we are kept fully aware of the situations that are evolving in Kenya on an hourly basis and would not endanger our clients & crew in anyway.

Kind regards,
Graeme Thomson
Founder and Managing Director

African Travel Co.

www.africanoverlandtours.com

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