Tourists flee Nairobi

Holidaymakers return home to escape worsening security in Kenya

Hundreds of foreign holidaymakers returned home from Kenya following a double bombing in the Eastleigh district of Nairobi on 16 May, killing 13 people and injuring about 70.

The twin blasts occured two days after the UK, France and the US warned of a high threat of terror attacks in Kenya.

Britain's Foreign Office advised against visiting beach resorts along the Kenyan coast, leading to tour operators evacuating British tourists from Mombasa.

The improvised explosions took place near the Gikomba clothes market in Eastleigh, a predominantly Somali-populated suburb known locally as “Little Mogadishu.”

Some of Eastleigh's inhabitants are known sympathisers of Somali militants al-Shabaab, the group responsible for last September's attack on Westgate Mall in which at least 67 people were killed.

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta had strong criticism for those behind the “evil” attacks, which he said were detrimental to the nation's tourism sector. He called on Kenyans and people around the world to stand united in the battle against terrorism.

Before the blasts on 16 May, Nairobi had stepped up its security measures at bus stations and banned vehicles with blacked-out windows. The capital's United Nations' office has also increased its security, closing its petrol station and restricting traffic to the facility.

The bombings were the latest in a string of attacks in the Kenyan capital in recent months.