LAMU,Kenya, Jan, 5 – Days after Kenyans ushered in the new year, tragedy hit parts of Lamu county after seven people were killed by suspected criminals in the area.
Security agencies probing the tragic incidents attributed the matter to domestic terrorism saying that the killings might have been caused by land dispute issues.
As a result the National Security Council held its first meeting of the year Wednesday discussing primarily the state of security in the county.
Chaired by president Uhuru Kenyatta, the council resolved to implement a raft of resolutions in a bid to restore security in the volatile areas including instituting a 30 day dusk to dawn curfew, effective Wednesday January 5th, 2022.
In a statement from the ministry of interior and coordination of national government, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i declared four divisions in the county as disturbed areas.
“Incidents of criminal attacks that have led to the loss of seven innocent lives have been reported in Widho Sub-location, Majembeni Location of Lamu County.The attacks have also occasioned the destruction of private property and unsettled residents in the affected and surrounding areas,” said Matiang’i.
in accordance with Section 106 (1) of the National Police Service Act, 2011, the National Security Council declared: Lamu West Sub County and the affected include Mukunumbi Division, Majembeni location, Ndamwe Location, Mkunumbi Location while in Witu Division the affected places include Pandanguo Location, Binde Warinde location, Witu location and Hamasi Location as disturbed areas.
In Mpeketoni Division the affected areas include Bomani Location, Pongwe Location, Mpeketoni Location, Bahari Location and Mapenya Location
Others such as In Lamu Central’s, Hindi Division’s has also been incorporated in the affected areas.
As such a multiagency security team is expected to be deployed in the area to in aid to restore law and order.
“Residents in the Disturbed Areas are requested to cooperate with the Security agencies and to share information on suspicious persons and activities,” said Matiangi.
On Tuesday, Police announced that they arrested five suspects over the attack at Widhu area in Majembeni in Lamu, that left 6 people dead.
Shahidi News established that the suspects were nabbed on Monday.
A seventh person was killed in a different village still within Lamu, over what police say is land-related disputes.
Those killed are non-locals, known for agitating for land rights.
National Police Service Spokesperson Bruno Shioso told Shahidi News that the suspects are being grilled amidst investigations.
Shioso further said that detectives are seeking to know whether the suspects are linked to the Al-Shabaab militia group or are simply sympathizers.
“All the suspects are locals and we are talking to them to establish more over the attack,” Shioso said during a phone interview with Shahidi News.
A team of security officers has been deployed in the area, in a bid to quell further attacks.
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