Armed bandits waylay tourists in the Samburu Game Reserve

ROBBERY NOT GOOD FOR OUR REPUTATION SAY TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS

(Posted 12th June 2017)

A group of tourists from the UK was yesterday robbed a few kilometres inside the Samburu Game Reserve, according to tweets seen and received from the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism.
While at present no arrests have been confirmed is it known that police is in hot pursuit of the bandits and according to a source close to the Ministry will do all humanly possible to apprehend the gang and bring them to justice.
‘You know that this is not an official statement but I can tell you that this is taken very seriously at the highest level of government. We cannot and will not allow our good name to be spoiled by such an incident and therefore, those responsible must be caught and taken to court‘ said the source on condition of anonymity.
While no one was injured in the hold up were the tourists reportedly shaken as their entire valuables were taken from them during the robbery.
The UK was Kenya’s second largest market last year close behind the United States and any whiff of trouble, given the ongoing situation in the Laikipia area of Kenya which was widely reported about in the UK over the past months, will create problems for the reputation of Kenya.
A senior tourism private sector stakeholder, also on condition of anonymity, pointed out that this was a most rare incident as tourists until now have been left alone in Kenya, expressing his hope that this was a one off situation.

The respective tweets from the Ministry are shown below for the benefit of ATC Readers.

1. Tourism Kenya? @Min_TourismKE 20h20 hours agoMore

   We condemn this acts of robbery on either local and international tourists, the government will firmly deal with perpetrators of such acts

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2. Tourism Kenya? @Min_TourismKE 21h21 hours agoMore

   This morning TPU Officers confirmed they were busy tracking them in the bush @MagicalKenya @fhersy @KTF_Kenya @Tourismfinance @TourismFund

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3. Tourism Kenya? @Min_TourismKE 21h21 hours agoMore

   This happened 3km from the Gate. No one was injured and the Police are in hot pursuit in tracking the bandits

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4. Tourism Kenya? @Min_TourismKE 21h21 hours agoMore

   Yesterday at about 1745 hrs, armed bandits robbed 7 UK tourists of their valuables as they went to Larsen’s Camp inside Samburu N. Reserve

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