Of course everything there is not exactly rosy ... with the actions of the El Shabab group now .. they search you everywhere with the metal detectors now.... 

Anyway ...  I have African friends in the Mombassa area who are not Muslim.. and to tell you the truth , a lot of those women as well like to wear burquas
as well at certain times even though they are not Muslim.... and its not because they are pressured in any way. But rather because the anonymity can create a bit of safety in that people will not always know when she is coming or going from her compound. In some of these countries there is a level of lawlessness and the police protection is not quite what we have here in the west. I think in many cases ... after having been there it can be a valuable tool for them. ...........  although i can only speak of my own impressions and I suppose that's all it is.

BTW.....  the last day I was there they did have some riots and a few Christian churches were set on fire....  so to tell you the truth its not all comming up roses there... 

Interesting post Lady.... well, you certainly spent much more time there than I did so you obviously got to know things a little better than I did.
  I stayed in Likoni .... not far after you take the ferry across the channel from the main city.

I thought it a little funny myself that they would wear the burqua ... but my friend said she does sometimes when she feels like it and so do others she knows.  They are Luuya tribe (sorry not spelled right) .... I guess to them they simply see it as another type of clothing and no big deal.
I rather like that outlook myself.

I think they were probably doing it more though right after 2008 when they had the post election violence. it got sort of bad right around their place at that time. I remember they had to barricade themselves inside as well.

But really though...after a short while seeing women in that type of dress seemed normal to me ....  and to tell you the truth ... you really notice womens eyes a lot more..... I mean as far as the expressions ..... so that sort of makes up for the rest of the body being covered up ...lol        I had no idea about the pro..t...ute  thing.   Really for the most part I do see very much respect between Muslims and Christians there. I really like Mombassa very much and hope they can continue to have that peace.

Sorry... I guess I confused the two Niquab and Burqua...  

People like you make me laugh who thinks they know everything. What do you say to the following verse from the Holy Qur'an and I will highlight the bit where Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala tells all believing women to cover up.

Sahih International

And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof
and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.