Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has dismissed reports that a group of tourists arriving in Kenya for a vacation were attacked and robbed by a gang of 50 youths in Mombasa.
Speaking during the Eid Baraza meeting in Mombasa County on Saturday afternoon, Joho accused a section of media outlets of spreading fake news, stating that such reporting could hurt Kenya's tourism industry.
The vocal minister noted that the country had already started facing the repercussions of the misinformation, adding that tourists had begun avoiding the Mombasa Port.
“I know the information was widely shared, claiming that a gang in Mombasa attacked a cruise ship carrying tourists at the Port of Mombasa. I want to clarify that no such thing happened,” Joho stated.
“Your misreporting is going to cost us a bit because tourists have already started talking about avoiding the port of Mombasa. So I want you to report correctly,” he added.
The CS, while expressing his disappointment over the matter, called on media houses to avoid misinterpreting facts, stating that such actions could derail the government’s efforts to boost the country’s tourism sector.
In the meeting, which was attended by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and senior government officials, the former Mombasa governor reiterated the government's deliberate efforts to ensure more cruise ships arrive at Kenyan ports.
“I want you to know that we work very hard, especially I, as the leader of maritime affairs. It concerns me to grow the maritime traffic at the port, and we have put in deliberate efforts to attract more cruise ships,” Joho said.
Joho's sentiments come days after reports went viral that a gang of 50 allegedly attacked tourists at the Pembe za Ndovu on Moi Avenue, an area frequently visited by tourists.
According to the reports, the incident occurred moments after Crystal Symphony, a luxurious cruise ship, arrived at the Port of Mombasa on March 31.
While no injuries were reported, the unverified reports claimed that most of the passengers cancelled their tour of the town and quickly returned to the ship.
Meanwhile, detectives drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have since arrested more than 50 machete-wielding gang members in Mombasa, accused of causing unrest in the populous county.
