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Alarm as militants target three Lamu GSU camps in three months
Kenya Defense Forces special forces officers in operation at Mangai in Boni forest in Lamu County.
What you need to know:
- The militants forced their way into Basuba Village but encountered resistance from National Police Reservists.
- Basuba, home to over 300 residents from the Boni community, has witnessed similar attacks in recent months.
Security agencies in Lamu's Boni Forest have launched an operation to pursue suspected Al-Shabaab militants who raided the Basuba General Service Unit (GSU) camp before being repulsed.
The incident, the third targeting a GSU camp in three months, occurred on Friday around 9:30pm when more than 60 heavily armed terrorists opened fire on the camp. Security sources said the attackers also threw Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) aimed at bombing the camp but missed their target.
The militants forced their way into Basuba Village but encountered resistance from National Police Reservists (NPR) manning the area. After the failed raid, the terrorists fled into the nearby Boni Forest.
Lamu County Commissioner Wesley Koech confirmed the attack and said the situation had been contained.
“We haven’t arrested anyone so far but the situation is calm with increased patrols. No casualties,” said Mr Koech.
Basuba, home to over 300 residents from the Boni minority community, has witnessed similar attacks in recent months. On April 5, security agencies repulsed another attempted night ambush on the GSU camp.
On July 13, militants tried to storm the Milimani GSU camp and village, about 45 kilometres from Basuba, but were repelled by GSU officers and police reservists.
“We’re taking steps towards ensuring complete peace and stability in Lamu. But all in all, we urge for cooperation from members of the public and every stakeholder,” said Mr Koech.
Security insiders suggested that the militants might be attempting to access security armories.
“We’re not taking such repeated raids by the militants for granted. These Al-Shabaab elements seem to be in a calculated motive either to overrun a security camp or have access to an armory so that they can have weapons and other crucial security equipment,” said an officer who requested anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
Area resident Tora Ware called on the government to establish a Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) camp at Basuba Village to reinforce the GSU.
“Many of us are worried every time night falls. Some have even vacated the village and live in Hindi, Mokowe and Lamu Town, far away from Boni Forest. We fear for our security,” said Mr Ware.
Healthcare paralysed
The latest Al-Shabaab raid in Basuba comes at a time when Boni Forest residents face numerous challenges, particularly the lack of healthcare services due to insecurity. The only hospital in the area has remained closed for three months due to terrorist threats.
The Mangai Dispensary had been reopened in June 2024 after more than 10 years of closure caused by recurrent attacks between 2014 and 2022. More than 600 residents of the remote Boni Forest villages rely on the dispensary for healthcare.
Mangai Village, with over 400 residents from the Boni minority community, depends on the facility, as do over 200 residents from Mararani Village, about 19 kilometres away.
Lamu Deputy Governor Dr Mbarak Bahjaj, who is also the County Health Executive, said the only health worker stationed at the facility fled for fear of being targeted by Al-Shabaab. This followed the March 15 incident where militants raided Mangai Village, gathered locals, and lectured them before distributing dates as a Ramadhan gift.
Dr Bahjaj added that the county government is working to recruit local youth from Boni Forest for training in medical and health-related skills so they can serve their villages.
“The problem has always been their grades but we’re working out with the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) to see whether they can review the grade requirements,” said Dr Bahjaj.
Village elder Mr Abdalla Gubo said they are forced to trek long distances or incur high costs to access services at the Mkokoni or Kiangwe dispensaries, especially during emergencies.
Kiangwe Dispensary, located in Boni Forest, is about 40 kilometres from Mangai, while Mkokoni is around 35 kilometres away. Hiring a motorbike from Mangai to Kiangwe and back costs Sh4,000, while a trip to Mkokoni costs Sh3,200.
“Since the Mangai dispensary was closed, we’ve been relying on traditional herbal medicine directly from the forest. We use certain roots to treat common illnesses here now that we don’t have any access to healthcare services from within. During times of emergencies, we don’t have an option,” said Mr Gubo.
Ms Asha Athman, a resident, called for the urgent reopening of the Mangai Dispensary, noting that pregnant women and children are currently the most affected.
In 2014, Mangai was among five dispensaries in Boni Forest shut down indefinitely due to recurrent attacks and vandalism by militants from neighbouring Somalia. The other facilities included Milimani, Basuba, Mararani, and Kiangwe.
In 2022 and 2024, the County Government of Lamu reopened the Kiangwe and Mangai dispensaries respectively, following rehabilitation and equipping efforts. The rest remain closed.
The Friday night attack in Basuba also comes two weeks after three KDF soldiers were killed and six others injured in an IED attack planted by Al-Shabaab on a road near Sankuri in Boni Forest. The incident occurred on July 15.
