Elders from the Boni minority community in Lamu have urged the government to provide adequate security during elections as fears of al Shabaab attacks persist.
Boni Forest is prone to al Shabaab terror attacks and the elders fear similar incidents might occur during the polls.
Speaking on Tuesday, Boni elders said the government should put in place contingency measures to ensure people take part in the forthcoming elections peacefully.
“The security issues in these areas are notorious and the government knows how it happens. They should be ready to protect us and ensure we vote and elect the leaders we want,” Abdalla Wakatti, and elder, said.
The elders fear that the militants might be planning to disrupt the election process and want security agencies to seal all loopholes.
“We have confidence with the security apparatus here but need we to remind them that attacks still happen. Our prayer is that no one will be allowed to disrupt this election,” Noya Abuli, another elder said.
Previously, the militants have targeted, looted and vandalised schools and dispensaries in the areas which are normally used as election centres.
The elders warned that the militants seem to be interested in destroying state or public facilities hence the need for adequate security.
“We have schools here that were burnt in the past by terrorists. We fear that such groups can actually still attack such premises during the elections to scare away voters,” elder Ali Gubo said.
The elders also warned about the possibility of politicians recruiting the services of such groups to terrorise their opponents and disrupt the elections.
“We know during elections politicians like to play dirty and we are just concerned that such individuals will want to recruit terrorists to scare away their opponents or scare them into unwillingly voting for them. Let security agencies take note,” he said.
The five Boni villages of Milimani, Mangai,Mararani,Basuba and Kiangwe have borne the biggest brunt of al Shabaab attacks in the region leaving scores of security officers and civilians dead over the years.
In 2015, the government launched the Linda Boni security operation to flush out terrorists, who were believed to be hiding in the forest and retreat there after launching attacks in Lamu and neighboring counties.
Despite the operation having achieved much, sporadic attacks still occur in Lamu and along the Kenya-Somalia border.
Early this year, Lamu experienced a series of attacks on residents and security officers from suspected al Shabaab militants.
The attacks left 15 people dead and thousands displaced from their homes.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
