Two police reservists are among the 48 killed following an attack in Mpeketoni in Lamu West Constituency by suspected Al shabaab gunmen.
One of the reservists was attached to the Lamu County Deputy Governor Eric Mugo. Several motorists who were caught up in the attack while driving to Kabaoni also lost their lives.
Four others were seriously injured in the incident which has been described as one of the worst terror attacks since the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi in which 67 people lost their lives.
The Kenya Red Cross has evacuated two casualties to Lamu hospital while another victim has been taken to the Mpeketoni Hospital.
Properties worth millions of shillings including the Equity Bank , Breeze View Guest Hhouse, Winners Lodge and several other private business premises and over 30 vehicles were also burnt down.
The Administration police divisional headquarters was also burnt together with five vehicles including that of the belonging to the Lamu County Assembly.
The gunmen reportedly composed of over 40 Militia men wearing military gear who had covered their heads completely to avoid recognition.
They were also heavily armed with Sophisticated weapons including machine guns and grenade launchers.
Majority of the locals and even security personnel were caught by surprise by the terror gang who first raided the Administration police base which also holds the Assistant county commissioner’s officer.
The gang burnt down computers and some offices together with the five vehicles that had been parked outside.
Attempt by the gunmen to extend the attack to the Mpeketoni Police station which is behind the AP base was foiled by regular police officers who fired back at the gunmen prompting them to head to the town centre.
The attack at the town centre took lasted more than four hours. In one of the cafes, nine people were gunned down while watching the World Cup.
Journalists including Star reporters who had camped at Kibaoni petrol station after getting reports of the attack had to cancel their Lamu trip after the gunmen began heading in their direction.
A Samba bus company bus also cancelled its journey to Lamu over the attack.
After over two hours the gun shots came closer to the area the journalists had parked forcing them to seek refuge in pit latrines and tunnels
One of the locals, Mr Guyo Boroni who was hiding with the journalists got caught up in the attack but was saved miraculously after he told them he was Muslim.
Heavy gun shots and grenades were heard continuously with some nearly hitting the journalists.
In the morning thousands of residents woke up from their hideouts and found the rude shock of badly mutilated bodies of victims on the road .
During the attack in both the town, Kibaoni junction and Hongwe area the terrorists had free time to shot and burn property. operating
Kenya Redross Society responded in the morning at Malindi and Garsen to assist the victims. Michaoel Aiyabei the Kenya Red Cross Society officer in charge of disaster confirmed that 48 people had died in the attack.
He said majority had bullets wounds and termed the attack as one of the worst as it had very few survivors.
Security personnel led by County Commander Samuel Omolo together with a contingent of security personnel came in the morning to collect the bodies and restore calm.