British officials were today working to secure the safe release of a kidnapped tourist whose husband was murdered during a robbery at an exclusive Kenyan beach resort favoured by celebrities.
The terrifying attack happened at the remote Kiwayu Safari Village, close to the border with lawless Somalia, which has played host to the artist Tracey Emin, the actress Imelda Staunton and reportedly Sir Mick Jagger.
There were suspicions the armed gang responsible was from Somalia, and may have used a speedboat to get away from the isolated island resort following the attack during the early hours of yesterday morning.
A British foreign office spokesman said: “We can confirm that two British nationals were attacked overnight at a beach resort north of Lamu, near the Kenya-Somalia border.
“One was killed and another kidnapped. We are working closely with the Kenyan authorities to establish further details.”
The couple were attacked on the first night of their stay at the resort, officials in Kenya said, with reports suggesting the bandits broke into their accommodation.
Police commissioner Mathew Iteere said that the couple had come from visiting the Masai Mara reserve and were the resort’s only guests.
The officer said the attackers, whose origins were unknown, took the woman away by boat.
A Kenyan security official said a policeman arrived to see six men carrying away the woman but decided not to shoot in case he hit the tourist.
There was speculation the kidnappers could be from an al-Qaeda-linked insurgent group called al Shabab that holds much of southern Somalia.
The foreign office spokesman said consular staff were working to secure the “safe and swift” release of the woman.
“We have deployed a consular team from our High Commission in Nairobi and are offering all possible support to the family of those involved,” he said.
“Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time. We are working to secure the safe and swift release of the British national who has been kidnapped and ask those involved to show compassion and release the individual immediately.”
The Kiwayu resort’s website states it takes “security and safety very seriously”.
It says: “Our relationship with the local community, its fishermen and the local authorities is positive and mutually beneficial.
“We regularly review our security and safety to ensure it is both comprehensive and current.”
Consisting of 18 luxury cottages spread along a private beach the resort is also popular among celebrities and backpackers alike.
Following the attack, the Foreign Office has repeated its advice for travellers not to venture within 50km of the Kenya-Somalia border. “There have been previous attacks by Somali militia into Kenya," its website said. "Three aid workers were kidnapped in July 2009, and two western nuns in November 2008.”
In 2008, British missionary Brian Thorp (77) was murdered during a robbery on the island of Lamu. Originally from Derbyshire, he had worked extensively across Africa as a Mill Hill missionary and may have been targeted as he had cash on him due to be paid to labourers renovating a church.