US warns citizens to avoid Kenya-Somalia border

Nairobi, Jan 15 (IANS) The United Sates has warned its citizens living in Kenya to avoid travelling to the border area between Somalia and Kenya because of threats by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab.

In a revised travel advisory issued on Friday, the US State Department told Americans to avoid travel in the northeastern Kenyan counties of Mandera, Wajir and Garissa, the coastal counties of Tana River and Lamu in their entirety and the Nairobi neighborhood of Eastleigh, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The US citizens should also be aware of potential terrorist threats and the high risk of crime throughout the country," US State Department said in its advisory.

Washington also advised its citizens to visit Old Town in the coastal city of Mombasa only at daylight hours.

"Violent and sometimes fatal crimes, including armed car-jackings, muggings, home invasions and burglaries and kidnappings can occur at anytime," the advisory said.

The East African nation relies heavily on the currency of foreigners that travel to see the wildlife and natural beauty of the land and these terror attacks threaten the tourism business.

Terrorist targets have included Kenyan and foreign government sites, police stations and vehicles, hotels, public transportation and other infrastructure targets.

On September 11, 2016, three masked women attacked a police station in Mombasa with knives and petrol bombs, wounding two Kenyan police officers.

In October 27, 2016, an assailant with a knife attacked a police officer guarding the US Embassy compound. The assailant was however shot dead by the security officers.