Five questioned in Lamu over Shabaab-linked killings of six
Lamu County Police Commander Moses Murithi who confirmed the arrest of five people in connection with the killing of six people in Widho village on the night of January 2, 2022.
Security agencies in Lamu are interrogating five suspects arrested in connection with the killings of six people in Widho village, Mkunumbi ward, Lamu West, on Sunday night.
More than five houses were also torched in the 10pm raid believed to have been orchestrated by Al-Shabaab militants.
Lamu County Police Commander Moses Murithi said on Tuesday that more suspects would be arrested in the ongoing swoop in Widho and surrounding villages.
Those arrested are locals and non-locals, he said.
He urged residents to share information that would help police arrest more suspects.
“We have five suspects in our custody so far. Our intelligence and wananchi assisted us in arresting them,” he said.
“They are being interrogated and will be aiding us in arresting more suspects. Meanwhile, we have intensified security in all areas of Lamu. So, residents shouldn’t be worried.”
Lamu West Deputy County Commissioner Charles Kitheka on Tuesday, January 4, 2021 addresses residents of Bobo in Hindi, Lamu West wher one person was killed and three houses torched by suspected Al-Shabaab militants.
Man killed, houses torched
The arrests come as Hindi residents try to come to terms with the killing of a 62-year-old man and torching of three houses in Bobo-Sunkia village on Monday night.
Mzee John Gichoya was cut with a panga in the leg by suspected Al-Shabaab militants at around 10pm before he was set ablaze in his house.
The incident came just a day after Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata visited Widho village and directed top security officers in Lamu to work around the clock to ensure the attackers who killed the six men on Sunday night were brought to book.
Mr Elungata said National Police Reservists in the region had failed to respond to the attack.
He noted that about 20 reservists work in Widho and they should have spotted the attackers and responded promptly or called for backup from other security units.
Probe police reservists
He said investigations were underway to ascertain where the reservists were at the time of the attack and disciplinary action would follow, including sacking culpable ones and withdrawing their rifles.
“If we don’t know where they were at the time of the attack, we will assume they are the ones behind the attack and shall take action against them to that effect,” Mr Elungata said.
He warned that state officers will not be allowed to misuse their guns by working with criminals.
“How can people walk from one homestead to the other while torching houses and you as NPR are around and yet you don’t respond? That doesn’t make sense at all. We will investigate,” he pledged.
