The majority of Lamu county residents are now questioning the increased cases of insecurity in the region.
There have been cases where suspected al Shabaab militants have been appearing and disappearing within areas that are considered operation zones.
According to the residents, the al Shabaab militants have turned the region into their playing ground despite an ongoing multi-agency security operation Amani Boni, that has been ongoing in the area since September 2015.
The operation is meant to flush out al Shabaab militants believed to be hiding inside the expansive Boni Forest and towards the Lamu-Somalia border.
Between June and August this year, at least eight people have been killed and 11 houses torched in various parts of Lamu.
Speaking to the Star on Wednesday, residents blamed the government for failure to curb terrorist activities in the county, a situation which is affecting them both socially and economically.
The residents questioned why despite billions of shillings being spent into flushing out al Shabaab in Boni Forest, the militants still keep on attacking them.
Joseph Kariuki, who is in transport business plying the Lamu-Witu-Garsen route, said he is looking forward to more being done to ensure there is complete peace and stability in the region.
“I wonder why despite massive security patrols and operations in Lamu, suspected al Shabaab militants have still shown up in some areas to conduct attacks and killings then vanish without a trace,” he said.
Elizabeth Katama said she was tired of seeing innocent people getting killed by terrorists in Lamu villages.
Katama expressed disappointment that despite the al Shabaab militia killing innocent residents, she has never heard about any arrests or killings on the side of the enemy.
“Security patrols are always intensified in this place. Why is it difficult for terrorists to be traced, killed, or even arrested? We feel there’s laxity somewhere which needs to be fixed,” Katama said.
Investigations by the Star affirmed that al Shabaab in Lamu has been operating in various forms.
There are times when the militants use their normal methods, including planting improvised explosive devices on routes mostly used by the Kenyan security forces, while at times they use pangas and knives to slaughter innocent civilians in their homes.
A security insider in Lamu revealed that al Shabaab’s mode of operation has continued to evolve with each passing day. This is with the sole intention of confusing the security agencies undertaking combat in the region.
On June 18, 2023, two KDF soldiers, among them a highly ranked officer, were killed and others injured when their vehicle ran over an IED that was planted on the route by al Shabaab militants at Mlima Faru along the Witu-Pandanguo road.
The two were part of a team that was on a rescue mission to evacuate General Service Unit officers who had been injured earlier after their vehicle ran over an IED planted on the route by al Shabaab militants within Mlima Faru.
During the earlier GSU attack within Mlima Faru, no fatalities were reported as the officers were traveling in a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle.
A week before, al Shabaab terrorists had also conducted a landmine attack on a security vehicle patrolling within Bodhei along the Lamu-Garissa border.
The attack orchestrated on June 13, 2023, left at least eight Special Branch Officers dead.
The same day, another group of security officers was attacked with a rocket-propelled grenade near Mararani in Lamu’s Boni Forest.
All the officers, however, escaped unhurt.
On June 24, 2023, over 60 armed assailants raided Salama and Juhudi villages between 7.30pm and 10pm, dragged people—mostly men from their houses—tied their legs and hands with nylon ropes behind their backs, and hacked them to death.
Among those killed was a Form 3 student from Bakanja Secondary School in Mpeketoni, Barrack Hussein, 19, who had just come home that evening for half-term break.
Six houses were also torched by the terrorists.
On July 12 this year, a farm caretaker was killed and five houses torched when suspected al Shabaab militants raided Salama and Widho villages in Lamu West at dawn.
