Electoral and sectarian violence in Kenya have forced several European nations to issue travel advisories regarding travel to Kenya. Italy has stated that while it considered Malindi safe for tourists, the lifting of its advisory would also depend upon the course of action decided jointly by other nations of the EU.
Italy’s ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Pierandrea Magistrati is on a fact-finding tour of Kenya and his input will be crucial in deciding if and when Italy reviews its travel advisory for Italian nationals in Kenya.
Newspaper and television reports of violence in Kenya have given Europeans the impression that the entire country is in turmoil whereas the fact is that the violence-affected parts such as Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu are quite far away from Malindi and the coastal areas.
The situation is particularly grim for Malindi which is entirely dependent on the approximately 30,000 Italian tourists for its economy.