Violence takes heavy toll on Mombasa tourism economy

Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie during a press conference on October 27, 2014. In Mombasa County, business for tourist hotels has declined significantly because of the violence that has hit the county. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA |   NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Tourism used to be the mainstay of the region, raking in billions of shillings. This is no longer the case, with many hotels having been closed. Tour operators have also closed shop.
• With the collapse of railway services and the heavy mechanisation of port operations, many jobs in the transport sector have been lost, with very few new ones being created.
• According to the study, the trebling of Mombasa’s population in the past 25 years, from a manageable 300,000 to today’s 1.2 million, is partly to blame for the radicalisation because there has been no corresponding expansion of services.

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Business for tourist hotels has declined significantly, because of the violence that has hit the county.

Tourism used to be the mainstay of the region, raking in billions of shillings. This is no longer the case, with many hotels having been closed. Tour operators have also closed shop.

The few hotels that are still open are operating at a bed occupancy rate of 20 per cent or below.

According to Kenya Coast Tourist Association CEO Millicent Odhiambo, a hotel needs to operate at a bed occupancy rate of 60 per cent and above for the business to be viable.

Mombasa, which used to receive more than 40 international charter flights, now gets less than 10.

With police having launched a massive crackdown to ferret out radicals and extremists, leading to the closure of four mosques in Majengo and Kisauni, and the recovery of weapons and radical literature, focus is now turning on security agencies and their methods of operation.
RISE OF RADICALISM
Some observers feel that the sledge-hammer option the police are employing ignores the reality of the rise of radicalism.

Others are of the view that religious pretensions are aimed at shielding the masterminds of the violence, who are key players in the narcotics industry.

More than 400 youths have been rounded up from numerous mosques.

In a strange turn of events, four out of seven people said to have been masterminding the killings in the Coast have surrendered to the police.

A development and management consultant with IDM Services Limited, Mr Gachanja Githende, said a study the firm conducted in the region to see how sources of revenue could be upgraded had shown a consistent 10 per cent drop in revenue annually for the past five years.

“The informal sector has been particularly hit hard. This is also true of construction, general retail and trade, and entertainment, which is collapsing. Moi Avenue, where major night clubs were located, is quiet as most of them have closed,” he added.

With the collapse of railway services and the heavy mechanisation of port operations, many jobs in the transport sector have been lost, with very few new ones being created.

INCREASED POPULATION
According to the study, the trebling of Mombasa’s population in the past 25 years, from a manageable 300,000 to today’s 1.2 million, is partly to blame for the radicalisation because there has been no corresponding expansion of services.

Today, Mombasa has a limited number of tertiary institutions to accommodate students who complete Form Four.

“It is a waste of time to focus on youths without looking at education. For example, Nyali Constituency, which accommodates the elite of Mombasa, has only two public schools,” said Mr Githende.

The Law Society of Kenya’s Mombasa branch chairman, Mr Eric Nyongesa, sees the problem as having started during the last General Election.

“The politicians who were elected have either failed or refused to provide leadership. After an election, the leaders have to provide guidance but they seem to have succumbed to sectarian interests instead of seeing Mombasa as a whole,” said Mr Nyongesa.

According to the lawyer, the leadership seems to be blowing hot and cold on the issue of radicalisation by providing moral support at times or showing indifference.

“When the governor, the senator and MPs are seen in court, where some radicals have been taken, what does this show? It appears the leaders are protecting selfish interests and not the general interests of the town,” added.

BUSINESS PLUMMETING
The managing director of Shehnai Restaurant in the town centre, Mr Zulfikar Harunani, said: “It’s 2pm and the place is empty! I have lost business and this is in the central business district. Even on weekends, there is no business.

“I have lost over 60 per cent of my business since the travel advisories started.”

In the past, Mr Harunani used to be overwhelmed with corporate and foreign visitors who sought to sample Indian cuisine.

Ms Grace Wangechi, who has been running a shoe shop near town for the past five years, said she had seen business drop by 50 per cent this year.

“This has forced us to reduce our prices by 25 per cent to attract customers,” she said.

Mr Mohammed Shabbir, a director at Soko Ndogo Supermarket, said the retailer had suffered a 40 per cent to 50 per cent drop in business since the troubles started.