KDF Personnel Deployed In Lamu After Gangs Killed 15 People

LAMU, Kenya, Jan 11- Gangs in Lamu have killed 15 people in 7 days, prompting heightened security operations to restore peace.

To complement the efforts of police in the area, the government has deployed Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel.

The KDF soldiers are set to help other agencies in dealing with the gangs that are on the loose attacking locals.

This follows the killing of two more people at Kibaoni on Sunday evening increasing fatalities to 15.

They include four police officers and nine civilians.

The Sunday evening killings sparked off protests at the Kibaoni trading centre, with residents condemning the police for failing to protect them.

The attack took place at around 5.30 pm, before the dusk to dawn curfew slapped by the government, to last 30 days, since the attacks began.

Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata said the two people killed were escaping from the armed militants after the latter opened fire on villagers going about their businesses.

Elungata, who held a meeting with Lamu leaders in Mombasa, assured locals of protection following the deployment of multi-agency security personnel.

A section of the County has since been declared troubled areas and dusk to dawn curfew effected.

This has however not deterred gangs said to have links to the Al-Shabaab terror group from launching their attacks.