US embassy relocates staff from Kenya over terrorism fears

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The U.S. embassy in Kenya has started relocating some of its staff from Kenya to other countries over terrorism threats that has so far seen some Western nations issue travel warnings to their nationals.

According to a revised travel advisory by Washington on Kenya, the embassy would also be cutting down on its footprints in Kenya in the wake of insecurity that saw at least 60 people killed and many others injured early this week in the coastal region.

"Based on the recent changes in Kenya's security situation, the Embassy is also relocating some staff to other countries," the State Department said in its advisory seen on Friday.

"U.S. citizens in Kenya, and those considering travel to Kenya, should evaluate their personal security situation in light of continuing and recently heightened threats from terrorism and the high rate of violent crime in some areas."

The new advisory replaces an earlier warning issued on May 17. The new one includes embassy staffing and current travel recommendations.

A string of terror attacks in recent months has culminated with the mass evacuation of British tourists from Mombasa following two explosions that killed ten and injured 76 in Nairobi last month.

More than 200 people have been killed in these attacks and hundreds have been injured with half of these attacks occurring in northeastern Kenya, mainly in Dadaab, Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera counties.

"Due to the terrorist attack on June 15 in Mpeketoni, in Lamu County, the U.S. embassy instituted restrictions on U.S. government personnel travel to all coastal counties – Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, and the coastal portion only of Tana River County," Washington said.

Analysts had also warned that the warnings are a blow to Kenya's already troubled tourism industry which relies on foreign visitors, many of whom combine safaris with beach holidays in Mombasa.

Kenya relies heavily on the currency of foreigners that travel to see the wildlife and natural beauty of the land.

These attacks threaten the tourism business which the country so readily relies on, so by extension the economy is threatened too.

The State Department added that it is reducing the embassy's "overall footprint" in Kenya by bringing down the number of Americans stationed in Nairobi. The embassy maintained that it will remain open for normal operations.

"The U.S. government continues to receive information about potential terrorist threats aimed at U.S., Western, and Kenyan interests in Kenya, including the Nairobi area and the coastal cities of Mombasa and Diani," reads part of the advisory.

Security has been heightened around the U.S. Embassy following the issuance of the new travel advisory.

Washington said additional security personnel will be arriving from Washington even as security patrols around the embassy is increased.

Britain, France and Australia had also issued warnings of terror threats in Nairobi and Mombasa with Britain having evacuated over 300 nationals in Mombasa alone.

Last month, the U.S. embassy in Nairobi requested Kenyan and American governments to deploy additional security in the wake of terrorism threats that have surged in the country.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed to continue with the anti- terror war and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to the authorities.

He said his government is planning to install closed circuit television cameras along the streets in the main cities to deter such attacks.

The country has been subjected to successive explosives attacks by Al-Shabaab operatives in the country following the onslaught by Kenyan soldiers on the Al-Shabaab in Somalia after the militia staged a series of attacks along the Kenyan coast.

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