Kenya beefs up security in coastal resorts before Obama's visit

Kenyan authorities have beefed up security in all tourist resorts in the coastal city of Mombasa to thwart insecurity incidents and enable tourists to enjoy top beaches ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama visit.

Mombasa County police commander Robert Kitur said the have heightened sea, ground and aerial patrols after and before the visit to keep off Al-Shabaab militants from the coastal resorts.

"We are not taking chances in ensuring the region is protected, elaborate security measures have been set up to thwart any terrorist attacks," Kitur told Xinhua in Mombasa.

He said security officers have been warned that any attack or even an attempt by Al-Shabaab terror group during the visit would raise their profile.

Kenya's tourism also suffered a decline in the number of tourists arriving since September 2011 when the Somali militant group carried out the kidnapping of tourists in the Lamu archipelago and the kidnapping of the Spanish volunteers.

On Thursday, senior U.S. marine agents could be seen patrolling the Indian Ocean with their aircraft moving close to Kenya's territorial waters.

The carrier and other warships arrived in the Indian Ocean early this month to protect Obama who will be visiting his father's ancestral land for the first time as the American president.

Sources said the foreign vessel will give logistical support in maritime surveillance along the Kenya and Somalia coastal line identified as war risk exclusion zones in the Indian Ocean.

According to intelligence sources, the carrier and warships will be used as launch and evacuation base for U.S. marine helicopters protecting president Obama should the need arise.

The vessel carries fixed-wing aircrafts, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles part of the security measures.

Kitur confirmed that different security agents including the foreign agencies are assisting in carrying out both operations during and after the visit.

The police commander said different inter-agencies are also working closely in intelligence gathering and sharing in the coastal region.

Mombasa and Nairobi including parts of northern Kenya have in past witnessed grenade attacks where hundreds of people have lost their lives to terrorists since the troops launched cross border incursion into Somalia in 2011.

Kitur said more police officers have been deployed in key installations including tourist hotels and shopping malls to enhance security to visiting tourists.

Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa said a special unit comprising National Intelligence Service (NIS), para military and general police units have been mobilised to patrol the coastal city during and after the visit.

Marwa said plain clothe detectives have been dispatched to crowed public places that might be prone to terrorism attacks.

"We have proper measures to deal with any terrorist threats. The city has been mapped and officers deployed to the adequately secure the area that might be prone to attacks," said Marwa.

Sources within security agents confirmed that some of the hotels in the coastal region have been booked by U.S.'s security services since June. Endit