africatodayonline.blogspot.com -
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has changed its travel advice for parts of the Kenyan coast following a spate of attacks that have left at least 87 people dead.
A total of 22 people were killed in raids last Saturday in the village of Hindi in Lamu county, and Gamba in Tana River county, according to the Kenya Red Cross.
In June 65 people were killed when gunmen launched an attack in the coastal town of Mpeketoni.
The Somali militant Islamist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attacks.
In the wake of the killings the FCO is advising against all but essential travel to Lamu county and the areas of Tana River county north of the Tana River itself.
In May s ome 400 British holidaymakers returned to the UK from Kenya after 10 people were killed when two explosions hit the capital Nairobi.
The tourists were flown back from the East African country's other main town, Mombasa, by tour operators Thomson and First Choice.
The bombings prompted the FCO to warn against all but essential travel to parts of Mombasa.
Thomson and First Choice cancelled all outbound flights to Kenya until October 31.
The latest FCO advice includes a statement which reads: " If you are currently in an area to which we now advise against all but essential travel you should consider whether you have an essential reason to remain. If not, you should leave the area.
"The UK has a responsibility to inform British citizens of the potential threats aimed at both Kenya and the international community. Our travel advice reflects solely our objective assessment of the security position. It is kept under constant review.
"To counter the shared threat of terrorism, the UK is committed to working with the Kenyan authorities to strengthen their capacity to investigate, prosecute and detain terrorists; in line with international human rights standards."
