By Yassin Juma
MOMBASA, Kenya
Security has been beefed up in Mombasa as thousands of local and foreign tourists head to the coastal resort city for the upcoming Easter holidays.
"Security officers are alert, both on the island and the mainland," Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa told Anadolu Agency.
"Officers have been deployed in all strategic places in Mombasa," he added. "Our priority is to ensure that residents… and visitors enjoy their Easter holidays."
Every year, thousands of mostly local tourists flock to Mombasa, Kenya's second largest city, for the Easter and Christmas holidays to enjoy its sandy beaches.
The annual Swahili cultural festival and a number of music concerts are scheduled to take place in Mombasa during the Easter holidays.
But tensions have been high in the Muslim-majority city since the killing last month of firebrand Muslim cleric Abubakar Shariff, popularly known as "Makaburi."
Makaburi, whose nickname means "graves" in Swahili, was killed by unknown gunmen in Mombasa. He was the third Muslim cleric to be killed in the city – and in almost the same way – within the past three years.
Makaburi's slaying came days after unknown gunmen killed six people at the Joy of Jesus Church on the Mombasa mainland.
"In my neighborhood we have seen an increased presence of police patrolling," Ken Muriithi, a resident of Tudor Mombasa, told AA.
He noted that several people were arrested on Sunday for being in the country illegally.
"The last Sunday to Easter celebration we marked Palm Sunday," Mary Atieno of the St. Emmanuel Church Mombasa told AA.
"Like in the past Palm Sundays we walked around the town carrying palm leaves [and] chanting praises for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," Atieno added.
"Only this time uniformed police were [walking] side by side with the worshippers."
In February, a church was set ablaze by rioting youth following a spate of arrests at a local mosque. Ensuing clashes between police and angry Muslims left two of the latter dead, along with a police officer.
Mombasa has an estimated population of 1.2 million, of which Muslims reportedly account for some 65 percent.
-Risks-
Marwa, the country commissioner, confirmed that ten suspected illegal aliens had been charged in court this week following a security sweep that netted some 100 suspects.
"We should expect more operations by the police as we approach the Easter holidays," he said.
Tourism is the second largest source of foreign currency in Kenya, an East African economic powerhouse.
It employs up to 150,000 people, according to the Kenya Tourism Board.
According to intelligence sources, Somali militant group Al-Shabaab may be planning attacks in the seaside city during the Easter holidays.
Among the possible targets is the Likoni Ferry, which connects Mombasa Island to the mainland and is used by thousands of commuters each day. Upmarket malls and hotels could also be targeted.
"The bookings for foreign tourists have gone down," Mohammed Barsheeba of the Kenya Coast Hoteliers Association told AA.
"There have been many cancellations after travel alerts were issued," he added.
"Bookings by local tourists, especially from Nairobi, have not been affected much comparing to last year," added Barsheeba.
Mombasa is a cosmopolitan city and home of the Swahili culture – a mixture of African, Arabic, Hindi and Portuguese culture.
It is considered the "gateway to East Africa" with its port that serves Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Last month, Kenyan authorities announced they had foiled a major terrorist plot after seizing two Al-Shabaab suspects driving an explosives-laden car through the Mombasa.
Authorities said the two men had planned to blow up the vehicle in a crowded area of the coastal city.
Kenya has been hit by a spate of terror attacks since sending troops to Somalia in 2011.
Nairobi decided to deploy troops in troubled Somalia following a series of kidnappings of tourists – who were later executed by Al-Shabaab militants – from the Kenyan coast.
Al-Shabaab also claimed responsibility for the 2013 Westgate Mall attack, in which 67 people were killed.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
