Watch World Cup at home, Kenyan fans told

Following a string of attacks on public places that has killed almost 60 people, the Kenyan government is urging fans to watch the World Cup at home.

The Kenyan government has urged people to watch World Cup matches at home rather than in public places, less than a week after attacks on the coast which left nearly 60 dead.

"Where possible, Kenyans are strongly advised to watch the World Cup matches from the comfort of their homes instead of crowded and unprotected open places," the interior ministry said in a statement on Friday.

"Although the government has beefed up security in all parts of the country, bar and restaurant owners are at the same time notified to maintain high alert in their areas of operation," the statement said.

"This will ensure that bar and restaurant patrons are safe from criminals who may try to take advantage of the World Cup to perpetrate acts of criminality and violence."

On Sunday night, gunmen raided the coastal town of Mpeketoni - situated near the tourist island of Lamu - and massacred close to 50 people. The attack came as some people in the town were watching a World Cup match in local cafes and hotels.

A further nine people were killed in an attack the following night in a nearby village.

The attacks were claimed by Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked Shabab, although President Uhuru Kenyatta has instead blamed the carnage on "local political networks" along with an "opportunist network of other criminal gangs".


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated


Tags

Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world