Kenya has downplayed travel warnings issued by the United States and the United Nations early this week against a surge in crime across the East African nation.

Tourism Minister Morris Dzoro and Government Spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua said the advisories would not affect tourism or any other sector of the economy.

"What we know as a government is that there is no place in the world that is secure. There are worse things that happen in American and European cities than what is happening in Kenya now, so it has not mattered before and doesn't matter now and it will not matter," Dzoro told journalists late Thursday.

The minister insisted that security has been beefed up following the recent spate of crime, and that the cases reported currently are isolated.

"The American people despite the advisories have visited Kenya more than ever before, so we know for sure Americans will still come to Kenya," he said.

Dzoro said the government has already taken measures by training the Tourist Police Unit, Kenya Wildlife Service rangers and the police.

In an alert issued on Tuesday, Washington warned American nationals to evaluate their personal safety situation in light of terrorist threats and increasing incidents of violent crime.

It also urged American citizens to carefully consider the risk of travel to Kenya due to the ongoing safety and security concerns.

"When you consider the number of criminal attacks that are in cities such as New York or Los Angeles where people are killed in gang warfare, now that is another thing," said Mutua in his weekly briefing.

"It does not mean that Kenya is a place where there is rampant insecurity and nobody is safe.

Issuing travel advisories in terms of a few acts of thuggery in our country is totally unfair," he said.

The warnings came as the East African nation vowed to crack down on the flow of illegal arms into urban areas and the people using them.

The government said on Thursday a flood of weapons into Kenya from neighboring Somalia is partly responsible for the recent surge of violent crime, particularly in the capital Nairobi.

The police have appealed for public help in apprehending nearly 24 men suspected of carrying out fatal carjackings and robberies in recent weeks.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has expressed concern about the rise in violent crime, especially in and around the capital, where diplomats and foreigners have been targeted along with many Kenyans.

The police estimate at least 50 civilians and security officials have been killed in the past two months in incidents related to violent crime.

Source: Xinhua