One person was killed and several houses were burnt in a raid that took place in Marafa and Poromoko villages in Lamu County on Saturday. The attackers, believed to be heavily-armed assailants, struck the villages at around 9 pm, setting multiple houses on fire. This incident has sparked fear in the area, as there had been a brief lull in such attacks. County Commissioner Louis Rono confirmed that the attackers managed to escape, but the police have initiated a manhunt to apprehend them.
Local reports suggest that the victim was a 72-year-old man named John Thuo, who was beheaded in the attack. The incident is suspected to be the work of al Shabaab militants. Along with the loss of life, at least ten houses were torched in the attack, with four houses being set ablaze in Marafa village and six in the neighboring village of Poromoko. The attackers also slaughtered chickens and stole household items during their rampage. Notably, one of the torched houses belonged to a National Police Reservist in the area.
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This attack comes after a three-month lull since a similar incident in Widho-Mashambani in Lamu West, where a gateman at Majembeni Primary School was killed after a brief abduction. During that attack, seven houses were torched, and livestock was slaughtered. Lamu County has experienced repeated attacks by Somali-based militants in recent months. Between June and September this year alone, at least 40 people, including security officers and civilians, have lost their lives in such attacks. Additionally, over 20 houses and a church have been set on fire.
The targeted areas are located near the Kenya-Somalia border, providing easy access for the terrorists to strike and retreat back into Somalia. These attacks have resulted in numerous deaths and displacements. The police have ramped up their operations in the area to counter these planned attacks. In October, the police released the names and pictures of 35 individuals believed to be associated with the terrorist group al-Shabaab, responsible for terrorizing the residents of Lamu. The public has been urged to provide any information about their whereabouts, with a promise of a financial reward.
