UK travel firms have canceled holidays to Kenya

At least 500 people will be affected by the cancellation

UK travel firms have cancelled holidays to Kenya until Monday, the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) has announced.

An estimated 500 people will be hit by the move which comes amid continuing Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel to the country.

All major UK tour operators had already suspended holidays until Saturday.

The FTO said Monday was a major return-home day for UK tourists in Kenya and holiday airlines will send planes to bring people back.

We will be deciding over the weekend on holiday arrangements for the days after Monday

FTO spokesman Graham Lancaster

Britons anxious over trips

The east African country has been gripped by violent clashes in the wake of the disputed presidential election.

The Foreign Office has urged anyone in affected areas, including Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu, to remain indoors and to "exercise extreme caution".

Announcing the latest ban, FTO spokesman Graham Lancaster said: "Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel to Kenya is still in place and we thought it best to extend the cancellation dates."

He added: "About 500 people are affected by the cancellation of trips on Sunday and Monday. The FTO will be deciding over the weekend on holiday arrangements for the days after Monday."

Volatile

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways are continuing UK-Kenya scheduled services as normal.

The violence has been mainly confined to urban areas, well-away from the country's popular beach resorts and safari parks.

But many tourists have to travel through Mombasa or Nairobi to reach their destinations.

An increasingly popular tourist destination, about 200,000 Britons visited Kenya last year, with numbers peaking in late January and February.

Cancellations also mean UK holiday companies having to refund passengers who choose not to take or cannot be accommodated on alternative holidays.

The Foreign Office says on its travel advice website that the situation "remains volatile".

"There are reports that daily mass gatherings are being planned for Nairobi and other urban areas. Such gatherings could potentially turn violent," it adds.