Lamu residents have resolved to cooperate with the authorities in the fight against terrorism to protect their economy which has been ruined by past attacks.
During a meeting with religious and community leaders in Boni forest yesterday, residents pledged to collaborate to flush out al Shabaab militants.
The declaration comes in the wake of a recent spate of deadly attacks by suspected al Shabaab militants targeting businesses in the area that left the local economy crippled.
They lamented that terrorism was costing them not just their peace but also their livelihoods and leaving them struggling to survive.
The clerics and community leaders lamented that terrorists were out to destabilise peace in Lamu by instigating animosity between Christian and Muslim faithful.
Boni elder and cleric Mohamed Dullo regretted that besides causing untold agony , the militants' heinous acts were crippling healthcare, education, agriculture, transport and business in the county.
He warned that those who have been using armed gangs to settle business rivalry, make political statements or settle land conflicts will equally be treated as terrorists.
In a recent incident, suspected Shabaab militants torched a truck belonging to local businessman Suleiman Maalim.
Maalim is recognised by the community for employing youths in his timber yard business.
The militants are also believed to have behind the blowing of a tractor that was used to distribute water to the Boni villages of Mararani,Mangai,Basuba and Kiunga in Lamu East.
Earlier this month, suspected al Shabaab militants killed Garissa county engineers at Dagega area.
The engineers were on a site visit for borehole that was being drilled at Hulugho.
The borehole was to provide water to residents.
Recent attacks in parts of Lamu between January 2 and 9 this year have left 15 people dead and have had a huge impact on farming hence the reduced agricultural production in Mpeketoni, the largest food basket for Lamu and Tana River counties.
During the meeting, residents also vowed to root out sympathisers of the terrorist group or anyone helping them advance their agenda.
Boni elder Hassan Bundi noted that the terrorists and gangs are deliberately targeting selected groups of persons or sectors ostensibly to destabilise Lamu.
“The terrorists and gangs have killed and maimed innocent residents and razed properties in the name of religion," Bundi said.
"However, their main agenda is to cripple essential sectors of our county, which largely depends on workforce from other counties.”
The interfaith groups further called on residents of Lamu West to set their religious differences aside and support efforts by security forces to weed out the terrorists and sympathisers.
"This is not a religious war. These criminals are killing everyone, in Degega all those who were killed were Muslims,"Bundi said.
"The tractor they burnt at Sankuri was ferrying water to Muslim occupied villages, this war affects all of us."
Meanwhile, multi-agency troops have embarked on an all-out operation to pursue and flush out militants in Boni Forest.
Heightened security operations are ongoing within known terrorists hide outs and extending to border areas of Lamu, Tana River and the rest.
Reports also indicate that, in a show of their willingness to cooperate residents have supplied security officers with names of suspected Shabaab sympathisers in the region.
