By Charles Omondi
It could have been a sheer coincidence, but two pronouncements- one by the embattled former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and another by the Government of Canada- are bound to have a profound impact on Kenya’s tourism industry, at least in the interim.
Both have advised foreigners to steer clear of Kenya amidst the rumbles ahead of the country’s General Election next year. Gachagua on July 19, called on tourists and investors to shun Kenya until next year, citing what he described as rising insecurity and alleged attacks by ‘goons’ and rogue police officers.
Speaking during a church service at the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Diocese of Kirinyaga, St Thomas Cathedral, north of Nairobi, Gachagua accused the government of failing to protect citizens and questioned where victims should seek justice when they believed security officers were involved in wrongdoing.
The leader of the opposition Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) said tourists and investors should avoid Kenya until after the 2027 General Election, arguing that the country needed to address security concerns before welcoming more visitors. “Because we do not want to destroy tourism in this country, I want to call upon tourists to suspend their visit to Kenya until next year,” Gachagua said.
He reckoned that it was better for Kenya to forego the external earnings for a short period rather than incur the long-term deprivation arising from harm inflicted on any foreign national in these volatile times. An unapologetic Gachagua reiterated the sentiments on a live interview with the Kenya Television Network (KTN) on the night of July 22.
Just a day after Gachagua’s call, the Canadian government advised its nationals to exercise a high degree of caution in Kenya due to the threat of terrorism and a high crime rate. The Canadian government said in its advisory that there was a threat of terrorism throughout Kenya, including in Nairobi.
“Terrorist attacks have occurred in the past in Nairobi, in the coastal region, including Mombasa and Malindi, in the Lamu, Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties, near the border with Somalia.
“Foreigners have been targeted, and further attacks cannot be ruled out,” said the government statement. Other countries that Kenya relies on for tourists could easily take a cue from Canada, worsening the situation.
Tourism is a cornerstone of Kenya’s economy, generating approximately KSh1.7 trillion ($12.7 billion) and contributing nearly 10% to the national GDP. The sector serves as a leading foreign exchange earner and supports over 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs across hospitality, transport, and conservation. A tumble in the sector would therefore inevitably occasion profound adverse effect on the largest economy in the East African Community (EAC) region.
Unsurprisingly, Gachagua has faced severe backlash, with his critics, including the State Department for Tourism and the Kenya Tourism Federation, Coast leaders, and other government officials. They have condemned the remarks as irresponsible and politically motivated, describing the pronouncements as jeopardising the economy, threatening millions of livelihoods, and undermining the sector’s recovery.
The matter was also discussed in the Senate, with a section condemning Gachagua and another going on the defence of the beleaguered former deputy president.
Some dissenting voices have also emerged from within the United Opposition, whose spokesman Mukhisa Kituyi described the Gachagua remarks as ‘unfortunate”. Dr Kituyi is former secretary general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). His take on inter-states transactions must therefore be considered fairly weighty.
Kenya’s leading newspaper, the Daily Nation, also joined the chorus of condemnation. In an editorial on July 23, the paper described the Gachagua utterances as irresponsible and unpatriotic.
“It is quite shocking that former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has called on tourists and investors to stay away from this country,” said the editorial. Utterances that threaten national stability and economic prosperity, the editorial further noted, cease to be legitimate political expression and become criminal incitement.
As it were, Kenya’s economic growth forecast for 2026 has been revised down to 5.0% (from 5.3%) with a budget deficit target around 4.9% to 5.5% of GDP, driven by external shocks from the Middle East conflict and domestic fiscal adjustments.
The disruption of a major revenue source like tourism would worsen this economy already strangled by an unsustainable public debt burden, heavy taxation pressures, and a severe squeeze on citizen purchasing power.
