Kenyan soldiers thwart suspected al Shabaab attack on Lamu IDP camp

Security agencies in Lamu County have launched a manhunt for suspected al Shabaab militants who tried to force their way into the Juhudi Primary School IDP camp in Lamu West on Thursday at dawn before they were repulsed.

The heavily armed terrorists raided the camp at around 3:30am and started shooting randomly.

A fire exchange that lasted for over ten minutes ensued between the militants and security forces before they were overpowered and fled into the nearby forest.

The Juhudi Primary School IDP camp borders Boni Forest.

Speaking to the Star on Thursday, Lamu West Deputy County Commissioner, Gabriel Kioni said Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) soldiers, the National Police Service (NPS) officers, and National Police Reservists (NPR) guarding the camp fought and overpowered the attackers whose intention was to enter the camp and harm the IDPs.

The camp is resided by at least 200 families who took refuge in the facility on June 23 this year after the first terrorist attack in Juhudi and Salama villages that left five people dead and six houses torched.

“The attackers raided the camp at around 3.30 am but our officers were alert. KDF threw tracer bullets in the air that greatly helped to locate the enemy. There was a fire exchange before the enemy was overpowered and fled into the nearby forest. So far, the area is well guarded and it’s calm,” said Mr Kioni.

On July 12 this year, heavily armed militants tried to force their way into the same IDP camp at Juhudi but NPR officers manning the camp by then managed to thwart the attack.

One NPR suffered a gunshot wound on the shoulder during the 2.40am ambush.

The aborted attack on Thursday comes just two days after two people were killed by suspected al Shabaab militants at Lango La Simba on the Lamu-Witu-Garsen road on Tuesday.

The killing was orchestrated at around 7am.

On Monday night, heavily armed suspected Al-Shabaab militants raided Salama village in Lamu West where they razed down eight houses and a church before stealing household items and fled into the nearby forest.

So far a total of ten people have been killed and property worth millions, including tens of houses, were destroyed by the terrorists in Lamu West villages between June and August this year.

On August 1, 2023, two people, including the wife of Hindi Ward MCA, James Njaaga, were killed when over 60 heavily armed suspected al Shabaab militants attacked vehicles by spraying them with bullets at Mwembeni area, near Lango La Simba, along the Lamu-Witu-Garsen road.

The 7.40am attack also left 10 people, including Njaaga seriously injured while a Matatu and two motorbikes were burnt to ashes by the terrorists.

On July 12, 2023, a farm caretaker was set ablaze inside his house by armed assailants suspected to be al Shabaab militants at Salama Block 17 area of Lamu West.

The farm caretaker was identified as Lucas Mwang’ombe.

Five houses were also torched at Salama Block 17 and Widho villages that same day.

The ever-recurrent terrorist attacks in Lamu have left residents wondering about the safety of their lives and property.