Tourists and guests at Pinewood Beach Resort and Spa in Diani were attacked in broad daylight by armed goons.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, November 26, the hotel managements lamented that the incident was a second attack targeted at the hotel.
Further, Pinewood Managing Director (MD) Al Noor Kanji noted that the attacks would paralyze their business adding that it did not create a conducive environment for tourism especially during the holidays.
Kanji stated that the attackers were recorded by CCTV cameras adding that many of their employees sustained injuries.
However, no fatalities were reported in the November 17, incident.
“I dread to think what might have happened had we not been able to keep them off. What was the intent, what was the end goal. Unthinkable,” lamented the management.
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Details of the Attack on Diani Hotel
Narrating the ordeal, Kanji stated that many of the hotel staff were forced to face the attackers to protect some of the visiting guests.
At the same time, he reveled that the hotel was forced to alert police officers who neutralized the situation with gunfire.
“The police had to intervene with gunfire, while our own staff were forced to fight the attackers head on. We are grateful that no one was killed.
“Without the protection of the armed police and the courage of our staff, this may not have been the case,” he stated.
In addition, the managing director stated that the hotel guests helped them by taking care of the wounded staff.
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“Even our own guest did what they could by carrying staff who were too injured to walk and administered first aid on the wounded.
“There is no doubt in my mind that this attack was intended to do as much damage as possible with the use of violence,’ added the MD.
Staff React to the Attack
Abdalla Ali Najma, a staff at the hotel stated that although they were scared because of the attacks, he wanted relevant authorities to address their concerns because he had no other means of livelihood.
“This hotel has been here for many years. We depend on this hotel to feed out families and take our children to school. I have nowhere else to go, I want to work and retire here,” he stated.
Likewise, Teresiah Wanjiku who also works at Pinewood stated that their property was stolen and some of the hotel staff were still nursing their injuries at home.
“They hit me with stones and other blunt objects. It was a very difficult time because our guests were scared and some of them were being chased away from the hotel.
“They robbed the hotel and people lost their property. Some of the staff were severely injured and are still at home,” she narrated.
Notably, the hotel is in the Centre of a legal dispute as KCB seeks to take over its management. However, the process was stopped by the court.
