Traders and hoteliers lose millions in mosque chaos

Traders in Mombasa lost business worth millions of shillings following the Masjid Musa chaos two weeks ago.

Hotels also incurred heavy losses after conferences were called off and some international tourists cancelled their bookings.

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mombasa branch chairman James Mureu said traders in Kisauni were forced to shut down their businesses for several days following the mosque chaos. He said customers also avoided the town for fear of attacks by hooligans.

“At the moment, it’s difficult to quantify the losses, but it definitely runs into millions of shillings,” he said.

“People from upcountry and neighbouring counties who buy goods in Mombasa cancelled their trips for safety reasons,” he added.

Mr Mureu said the youth also looted shops and M-Pesa outlets.

He urged local leaders to advise the youth to desist from radicalism and acts of hooliganism, saying, regardless of religion or ethnicity, all business people incurred huge losses when such things happened.

“Leaders and parents have the responsibility of instilling discipline into our youth for them to have better future and for businesses to thrive,” he said.

“Whenever chaos erupts, nobody benefits. All religions advocate peace and therefore it is important for us to teach our children to be peace lovers,” he added.

Mr Mureu called for job-creation, saying, unemployment had forced some youth to abuse drugs and engage in hooliganism.

“County chiefs should find ways of creating jobs for the youth as well as offering them training opportunities,” he said, adding: “The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry is ready to support the mentoring of youth and support them with internship programmes to help them access the job market or go into self-employment.”

Sai Rock Hotel Group general manager Robert Kiri said the establishment lost business worth Sh1 million after organisers of a five-day conference called it off, citing security fears for the delegates.

The hotel, he said, also experienced cancellations of some international tourist bookings.

“We expected good business this month as some counties and non-governmental organisations were planning to hold conferences here,” he said.

“Other meetings have been put on hold as the organisers are closely monitoring the situation in Mombasa,” he added.

Another Mombasa hotel lost over Sh20 million after the International Association of Deposit Insurers called off a conference, which was supposed to take place between February 9 and 16.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye warned that if efforts were not made to contain such incidents, future tourist bookings would be seriously affected.

“This is the time when international tourists are bookings their holidays and these acts of violence must end,” he said.

“We expect the sector to improve this year, but that can only happen if Mombasa and other parts of the country are peaceful,” he added.