Kilifi county beach boys want tourism players to stop calling them beggars since they operate their business legally.
They asked the government to wipe out children from the beaches as they contribute to unlawful behaviours that tarnish their image.
Speaking in Malindi yesterday, the beach boys said they are falsely accused of harassing tourists on holiday by security personnel and hotel owners.
Juma Mwaringa the beach boys spokesman said all of them had legal operating documents and licenses but are constantly harassed.
“Every beach boy has a badge, certificate of good conduct and all necessary documents of operation as required by law," he said.
He accused the tourist hotel managements of colluding with security personnel to arrest them when they get bookings for trips from tourists.
He said the hotels management frustrate them through security agents to get bookings from the same tourists staying in their hotels.
“The hoteliers use the police to harass us, we have our documents, and responsibilities at home, this is our sole source of income if the situation won’t change it will be difficult to survive,’’ he said.
Justin Kitsao a representative of the beach operators said the government has failed in maintaining the beaches, a problem that has contributed to the loss of tourists.
He said most of the beaches have no toilets, forcing tourists to relieve themselves on the beaches. Kitsao clarified that those harassing tourists in form of begging were school children who escape from school The complains a few days after Tourism cabinet secretary Phyllis Kandie toured the Coast to assess the state of tourism.