Nairobi: Govt Deploys Anti-Terror Squad To Rescue Ambassadors Trapped Inside Hotel After Commotion

• The government sent an anti-terror squad to contain the situation at the Qaribu Inn in Nairobi, which caused panic among international ambassadors and other dignitaries
• The ambassadors and dignitaries were in a private meeting when an intoxicated tried to access the venue
• Attempts to remove him became futile as he managed to barricade the hotel gate, trapping the guests

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

The government sent an anti-terror squad to save trapped international ambassadors and dignitaries at the Qaribu Inn in Nairobi.

The unanticipated incident heightened security concerns at the hotel, with victims who were trapped for close to four hours and their families urgently calling for government intervention.

"The dignitaries, confined in a state of uncertainty and shock for hours, were subjected to a situation no person should ever endure. The alarming concern for the safety of the numerous international diplomats in the hotel caused serious panic, and family and friends raised the alarm to the government, necessitating the prompt response of the anti-terror police," read a communication from the hotel.

What caused the commotion?

The 5-star hotel communicated that the commotion, which raised serious security concerns, was caused by a resident of the Waterfront Gardens.

According to the hotel, the man was highly intoxicated at the time he tried penetrating the exclusive diplomatic event.

Security's attempts to contain the situation did not bear fruit, as he used two vehicles to barricade the hotel's main entrance, effectively trapping the dignitaries.

"A resident of Waterfront Gardens, in a severe state of intoxication, aggressively attempted to infiltrate the venue, instigating a profound disturbance. The volatile and violent demeanour he precipitated a state of panic and fear among the guests and staff, creating an atmosphere of terror," read the communication.

The hotel reassured its esteemed clients of their dedication and future measures to avoid any recurrence of such incidents.

"We at Qaribu Inn wish to express our deepest apologies to the affected dignitaries, guests, and our community. We emphasise our commitment to strict adherence to community noise control norms, ensuring all our events conclude by 10pm. However, this incident transcended a noise issue, evolving into a dire security crisis."

Drunk man unable to locate his destination

In 2021, a man who drank himself out of normalcy was captured in a video as he was unable to locate the path to take on a broad street.

The man was seen taking steps backwards when he was struggling to move forward.

At the same time, his upper body bent in the opposite direction he meant to move and he could be seen falling down.