Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana has dismissed a recent travel advisory by the US warning its citizens against travelling to Kenya over security concerns.
On Tuesday, March 18, the US Embassy in Kenya issued a travel advisory, cautioning its citizens planning to visit the country due to what it described as "increased security risks".
In the advisory, the US Embassy highlighted Kenya-Somalia border counties, including Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera, labelling them as high-risk regions. Tana River County and coastal areas north of Malindi were also flagged due to the lingering threat of terrorism and kidnapping.
"Exercise caution in Kenya due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas of the country have a greater risk," read the advisory in part.
"Violent crimes, such as armed carjacking, mugging, home invasion, and kidnapping, can occur at any time. Local police cannot often respond effectively to serious crimes and terrorist attacks."
Responding to the advisory, Mungatana criticised the US Chargé d’Affaires, Marc Dillard, alleging that Kenya, including Tana River, was a hundred times safer than America.
Defending his region, the senator asserted that the US Chargé d’Affaires had no authority to label Tana River as insecure, given that he had never set foot in the county and lacked firsthand knowledge of it.
"They have mentioned Tana River. I want to ask the ambassador, have you ever been to Tana River to say that it is an insecure area?" Mungatana wondered.
According to Mungatana, the advisory was ill-informed and aimed at tarnishing the county's reputation. He further claimed that the warning was based on stereotypes rather than facts.
"Tana River is safe. If anything, you should be advising Americans, because America is more dangerous than Tana River by 100 per cent. Here in Tana River, people live in peace, and nobody gets robbed," the senator said.
He urged the US to move beyond stereotypes and recognise Tana River as a safe, thriving region with significant investment opportunities.
Regarding terrorism, the embassy flagged government buildings, schools, places of worship, malls, and hotels as locations where attacks could occur "with little or no warning".
