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The United States Department of State warned Americans against visiting Kibera and Eastleigh while touring Kenya.
In an advisory posted on Thursday, December 15, the department issued a Level 3 alert on the two neighbourhoods pointing to spontaneous violent crimes.
“Carjacking, mugging, home invasion, and kidnapping, can occur at any time. Street crime can involve multiple armed assailants.
“Local police often lack the resources and training to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.” the advisory read in part.
An undated image of the entrance to the US Embassy in Gigiri, Nairobi.
Capital Group
America cautioned its citizens to reconsider travelling to Laikipia County, singling out Nyahururu, Laikipia West and Laikipia North constituencies over the ongoing government operation to quell crime in the county.
The Likoni ferry crossing point was also earmarked to harbour safety concerns. Citizens are prohibited from travelling to Mander, Garissa, Wajir, Tana River, Kilifi and Lamu counties.
A Level 4 alert was placed on the counties over kidnappings and terrorism, while Turkana’s red flag was due to frequent armed robberies along the Kainuk-Lodwar road.
Generally, Kenya was listed among the countries with a Level 2; exercise increased caution, and advisory.
“Exercise increased caution in Kenya due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk,” the Department of State wrote.
Consequently, the US government advised its citizens to avoid areas to avoid locations frequented by Westerners and monitor news on the local media.
Americans were called upon to enrol into Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): a programme that will help the government locate them and provide them with regular security updates.
On December 14, the Inspector General of Police (IG) Japhet Koome flagged a report warning of an Al Shabaab attack in Nairobi malls as fake.
Koome assured Kenyans that the country was safe and security agents were vigilant to arrest any threat before it occurred.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome
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