Lamu: Two people killed, 9 houses torched in suspected terrorist attack

In yet another attack in troubled Lamu County, two people were killed and nine houses torched after suspected terrorists attacked motorists in Lango la Simba area and Salama village.

More than 20 families were left homeless following the Monday night attack which is the third in the area in a span of two months. The Redeemed Gospel Church where villagers worship every Sunday was not spared either.

Alex Githinji, a resident at Salama, said: “Simu ya kwanza nilipata saa mbili na nusu kwa mkazi wa Salama akaniambia ameona watu akarusha mshale na akawakosa naye akakimbia, walienda kwa maboma wakachoma moja moja.”

The Redeemed Gospel Pastor stated: “Jana saa tatu usiku tuliweza kuvamiwa na watu wasiojulikana na kufanya madhara haya, nimejua baadaye kwamba wameteketeza kanisa lakini walifika karibu na nyumbani wakateteketeza manyumba ya majirani.”

Residents who spent the night inside the forest after the attack said the terrorists also took away 22 goats, 42 chickens and 15 bags of maize which they had harvested.

Beatrice Nyambura, another resident, said; "Mimi naomba tu watusaidie kwa sababu hii eneo ni mara kadhaa tumevamiwa, wanaume wameuawa, kuchomewa manyumba, leo hii ndio hatukuuawa mtu lakini mbuzi yetu na mali yetu imeenda.”

Lamu Kenya Red Cross Coordinator Abdulhakim Abdul said: "Wamefanya uharibifu kiasi kikubwa katika mashamba watu wamelima na wako tayari kuvuna chakula... mashamba yamenawiri, lakini ukiangalia watu wamevuna.”

After carrying out the attack in the village, the terrorists moved to the nearby Pandanguo GSU Camp.

Lamu West Deputy County Commander Gabriel Kioni said: "Walienda pia wakawavamia kituo cha GSU pale Pandanguo lakini hawakufaulu kupenya...walikabiliana nao na wakakuwa overpowered.”

From the camp, the group laid a trap along Lamu - Witu - Garsen road where they ambushed and killed a truck driver identified as Kaingu Godo and his assistant.

The two were ferrying construction materials from Mombasa to Lamu when they were attacked in Lango la Simba, an area prone to attacks in the recent past despite heavy security presence.

The latest attack comes just a week after three people went missing after an attack by the terrorists along the same road.

Two weeks earlier, two people were killed when a vehicle belonging to Hindi MCA James Njaaga was attacked. The MCA suffered gunshot wounds during the attack.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki, who is expected to tour the troubled county on Wednesday to assess the situation, had earlier this month told MPs that 29 security officers are among tens of Kenyans who have been killed by terrorists in less than three months.

In the month of June alone, 20 people were killed by terrorists in Lamu, Mandera, Garissa and Wajir counties.