In late December 2007, warnings were issued to those travelling to both Kenya and Pakistan to avoid these areas if possible. For Kenya, this was because of the unrest and higher than normal levels of violence and instability - due to the presidential and parliamentary elections that were held December 27^th, 2007.

Riots and violent protests were reported in major area and in public demonstrations throughout Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu and their surrounding areas. In fact, a rumbling was reported to have erupted at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport - Kenya's major airport, just 15 kilometres from the city.

These few weeks of unrest have caused a huge problem for Kenya's economy, especially in its travel and tourism industry - the economy's biggest earner next to agriculture.

Now that it is weeks later in mid-January 2008, the Kenya travel and tourism industry is beginning to feel the effects of these events. In 2006, the travel and tourism industry in Kenya made up 4.2% of the country's workforce - that's a quarter of a million people. Another half million and more, or 9.2% of the workforce, was employed indirectly by the industry.

Thus, the tourism industry in Kenya is an important source of income for just over 1/10^th of the population in Kenya. In fact, 2007 was the first year that the tourism's economy exceeded that earned by agriculture - a step towards a stronger country - and the origin of Africa's tourism.

One of the biggest proponents of negativity has been the media which singled out Kenya and Pakistan as dangerous and violent areas. Jake Grieves Cook from the Kenya Tourist Board argues that there was no prevalent violence in large tourist areas and that throughout the time of unrest, some 40 thousand tourists were able to travel through Kenya safely and unharmed.

No warnings have been lifted at this time concerning violence and possible terrorist activity happening in Kenya. If travelling to Kenya, please be cautious, avoid all political demonstrations and large public gatherings.

For daily updates from the Canadian Government, visit Voyage Canada.

For daily updates from the United States Government, visit the US Embassy in Nairobi.

For daily updates from the United Kingdom, visit the UK's Foreign & Commonwealth Office.