Beach Boys will now be trained by the government for free at Kilifi University on how to receive tourists.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza on February 25 intimated that she was planning to introduce a training course for beach boys in the coastal region.
According to Malonza, the training would be done as a remedy to tame insecurity, which is a threat to tourism at the Coast.
"We have a plan for our Beach Boys because they are also looking for income. We have however received complains that when tourists come they are being harassed and have even threatened to stop coming," she stated.
Malonza spoke during a visit to affected hotels in Watamu, Kilifi County that were razed down.
"The plan we have for our beach boys is to first ensure that the university we are building here at Ronald Ngala street in Kilifi will offer free education for them on Tourism management," she observed.
"They will be taught how to receive our tourists," she added.
Additionally, the CS communicated that a beach boys' association should be established to act as a recruitment agency for individuals and legitimize them through formal employment.
"Beach Boys should have an association just like tour operators. They should be employed in those associations so that they are given uniforms that will help identify them as certified beach boys," she remarked.
Furthermore, Malonza implored the area residents not to allow Watamu to suffer the same fate as Malindi when a tourist was abducted.
"We do not want Watamu to be likened to Malindi because you remember we lost a tourist who was abducted and Tourism in that area collapsed," she cautioned.
This is not the first time Beach Boys are being highlighted as a cause of the tourist downturn in the coastal areas.
Former Tourism CS Najib Balala once called out the group for the harassment of beach holidaymakers.
Balala warned that harassment of visitors by beach operators had to stop to make the destination more attractive.
''It is still a big concern that denies visitors real-life experience on our pristine white sandy beaches. County governments that border Indian Ocean waters must act now,'' the CS ordered.
He reiterated the need to ensure closer integration of the community living around tourist hot spots so as to allow them to realise benefits accruing from the industry.
