The correct version of the attack on Mpeketoni in regard of events, locations and their context are described on my blog, with postings starting at 00.39 hrs last night and continuing throughout the morning. Sections of the international media have blatantly disregarded some of the facts put to them, vis a vis location, the fact that Mpeketoni can under no circumstances be described as a tourist town or even close to any of Kenya’s coastal resorts, but their reports are their reports, for reasons best known to them.
Here is Jake Grieves-Cook’s response to his clients and the international media, happily reposted here to once again clarify on fact and put the misconceptions to rest.
From: Jake Grieves-Cook <jake>
Subject: Terrorist attack on police post and mainland town in Kenya
Date: 16 June 2014 11:20:22 GMT+3
SECURITY UPDATE – KENYA
16 June 2014As has been widely reported in the international media, there was a terrorist attack on the small town of Mpeketoni on the mainland of Kenya yesterday in Lamu county. The local press in Kenya report that at least 48 people were killed when the terrorists attacked government offices, local lodging-houses and eating places in Mpeketoni town.
Some of the international press reports are very misleading and have given the impression that tourist hotels on the island of Lamu were attacked but this is totally incorrect. The map below shows the location of Mpeketoni which is 45 kms by road from the Mokowe jetty opposite Lamu. There are no international resort hotels in Mpeketoni and it is not a place normally visited by tourists. All our guests going to Lamu fly into the airport on Manda island and do not travel to Lamu overland by road. Reports from Lamu indicate that all is calm and peaceful there as usual and the island was totally unaffected by the events on the mainland at Mpeketoni, with tourist visitors on Lamu enjoying their stay as normal.
All of us in the tourism fraternity in Kenya would wish to express our deepest sympathies to our fellow Kenyans who have lost their loved ones in this atrocity at Mpeketoni.
The safety and security of our international visitors is our highest priority and we will continue to give very careful attention to see that all our guests are well looked after while in Kenya and that they are taken only to places considered safe and where their security is not considered to be at risk.
Jake Grieves-Cook
************************************* Jake Grieves-Cook
Managing Director
Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps
www.porini.com
*************************************
7 Responses
Your post is in bad taste especially in the last paragraph when you say “The safety and security of our international visitors is our highest priority and we will continue to give very careful attention to see that all our guests are well looked after”….Even though you’ve condoled with the affected families, your post appear to hide little that what you care about most is the safety of international visitors (tourists). All Kenyans need security because they pay taxes for that. Tourists only pay to stay in your hotels which only end up profiting you. Please consider reviewing your post.
Dear Mr Onyango
I don’t understand why you feel that a tour company such as ours should have a special responsibility for the safety and security of the wider Kenya population. Surely that is the responsibility of the government and not a private safari company?
As Kenyans we all feel the pain of those who have suffered at the hands of terrorists and some of us may have family members and friends who have been harmed in such random incidents. However our own responsibility is to ensure that we look after our guests who are entrusted to our care and reassure them that we will always have their safety and security as our highest priority so that they may continue visiting this country and enjoying its attractions.
I am also surprised that you feel that it is only hotels which profit from international
visitors and you seem unaware of the importance of tourism to the economy of Kenya and the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Kenyans whose jobs are linked to tourism. I hope that on reflection you will agree that the safety and security of a country’s population is the responsibility of its government with the support and co-operation of its citizens and that a travel company owes a duty of care to its own customers and guests as a priority.
Best wishes
Jake Grieves-Cook
Thank you Jake for responding. I know you for well near 40 years now and any suggestion that you care more for the life of a tourist than that of a fellow Kenyan is absolutely ludicrous.
W.
Dear Jim,
Just like Prof Wolfgang knows Jake, I also know you. I am equally surprised at your comments meant for our visitors. I suppose you don’t expect tour firms to assure Kenyans like yourself about their security. I can’t believe that you could make such claim on who profits from tourism. The whole chain of those who benefit includes national government tax collectors, county government licenses, Kenya Wildlife Service, (which pays my salary) farmers, airlines, tour firms, hoteliers, travel agents, private local air operators. It’s a very long list that the multiplier effect of tourism on our economy is immense. Tourists are wondering if its safe to visit Kenya anymore. They need government and private sector reassurance. Its good that Jake Grieves Cook has taken the trouble to set the record straight in the best way he knows. Please share this with American friends. In view of this, is it too much to ask you to revise your comments?
Mister onyango: “All Kenyans need security because they pay taxes for that”. With the high level of taxes in this country the security should be AMAZING then and it is certainly not! All because of corruption. Good article jake!
Well said Jake