Turmoil hits Kenya holiday hopes
TWO West Norfolk couples have been affected by the turmoil in Kenya after booking holidays to the country where a crisis broke out after claims of vote rigging in the presidential election.
Hunstanton hotel managers Trevor (53) and Diane (48) Hammond had been looking forward to a restful fortnight's holiday in Diani Beach on Kenya's south coast – but now they don't know if they will be going.
And retired sales manager Bernard Simmons (65) and his wife, Frederica (62), from Sedgeford, had their safari holiday to Kenya cancelled on Thursday – just three days before they were due to fly out to the capital, Nairobi.
The Hammonds, who have been running the nine-bedroomed Shellbrooke Hotel in Cliff Terrace since last June, should fly out to Mombasa on Saturday and their holiday company, Thomson Travel, says the flight is still on.
But Mr Hammond is sceptical that they will be going because of the uncertain situation in the East African country, where 350 people have been killed and about 250,000 driven from their homes in the recent troubles. He said: "Three or four dead bodies were found in Mombasa and flights were waiting for armed forces to escort passengers to their destination – so I would have thought that's a problem.
"Reports suggest it is going to get worse before it gets better out there and the prospects for us going on Saturday are not good. I can't see it happening."
Mr Hammond is in daily contact with Thomson and was told that flights to Kenya up to last weekend had been cancelled but anything after that was still on.
"They are letting people know only two days before the actual flight which is no good for making any alternative arrangements."
"They can't guarantee they will offer us an alternative for that fortnight but if we cancel now we lose all our money, and it's about 1,500 we have paid."
The couple have been in the hotel business for more than 20 years and wanted a break in the sun after the busy festive period. "After a hectic year, we were focused on the holiday to get away from it all and chill out,"Mr Hammond said.
The Simmons had been looking forward to their eight-day adventure which they had booked through West Norfolk Travel in Lynn last June. "But on Thursday the Foreign Office upgraded the danger level and said no-one should go there unless it was essential," Mr Simmons said.
The same day, tour operator, Travel2, informed their travel agent Bill Irwin that they could have a full refund of the 2,000-plus they had paid and the cancellation was made.
"If we had cancelled before then because we were nervous of what we had seen on television we would have lost all our money," Mr Simmons said.
He pointed out that they could still end up 200-plus out of pocket because they had paid for visas, yellow fever injections and other medication recommended. "It's just a damn nuisance and very, very disappointing," he said.
Mr Irwin has three more West Norfolk people due to fly to Mombasa for a beach and safari holiday in mid-February and is optimistic that things will settle down before then.
His wife, Aruna, was born in Nairobi and has friends living there. On New Year’s Day they phoned them and were told that they were not housebound and life was carrying on as normal, despite the unrest in parts. “They are aware of the troubles but keeping out of the way,” Mr Irwin said.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 26 C
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