Participants take part in the donkey race competition during the Lamu Cultural Festivals on December 1, 2023.
Lamu County has in 2024 recorded the fewest number of insecurity incidents caused by suspected al-Shabaab militants compared to previous years.
Unlike in 2023 where many villages of Lamu were turned into killing fields, 2024 has seen the same places basking in the warmth of peace.
They are in fact peace havens, all thanks to the continued multi-agency security operation by the national government.
The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), National Police Service (NPS) and the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) undertake these operations with efforts concentrated more on security volatile areas of Boni Forest and towards the Kenya-Somalia border.
Nation.Africa established that unlike in 2023 where more than 30 people were killed and over 40 houses and a church torched in various parts of Lamu County, this year recorded only one incident of al-Shabaab attack that left one person killed, two injured and two vehicles torched.
The incident happened on April 9, 2024, at Milihoi along the Lamu-Witu-Garsen road after a group of the Somalia-based insurgents ambushed vehicles on the route.
Another success story recorded in 2024 is when the KDF killed six al-Shabaab militants after launching a targeted operation against an active camp in Kumba, about 10 kilometres East of Pandanguo village inside the dense Boni Forest.
Between June and December, 2023, villages such as Juhudi, Salama, Widho, Marafa, Mashogoni, Poromoko, Pandanguo, Mlima Faru, Nyongoro, Mambo Sasa and surrounding areas were filled with cries of people losing their loved ones almost weekly if not daily.
That is contrary to this year where the same villages have become peace havens with people resting easy.
County Commissioner Wesley Koech cited various issues that have contributed to the restored peace and stability across Lamu.
Among them is the concerted efforts by security agencies and the Lamu community in fighting the common enemy.
Mr Koech said locals in Lamu have been very cooperative with the security agencies, a move that has eased their operations.
“Information-sharing between members of the public and our security agencies have greatly improved in recent times and this has made it possible to fight and neutralise the enemy in this place. Increased security operations in places like Boni Forest and the border areas of Kiunga has also helped eliminate bad elements,” said Mr Koech.
The second reason behind the reduced terrorist attacks is the opening up of Lamu as an economic hub. The Sh310 billion Lamu Port whose operations were launched in May 2021 and completion of the Sh10.8 billion Lamu-Witu-Garsen road, have impacted positively on the Lamu security.
Mr Koech said unlike before where vehicles would move at a snail’s pace due to many potholes filling the road, such vehicles can now move faster and safely.
This is after fresh construction and tarmacking of the road was done with bushes by the roadside cleared.
“As you're aware, when the road had potholes and the roadside was bushy, that had made it easier for al-Shabaab militants to waylay and ambush security officers and public service vehicles as they moved slowly owing to the poor state of the road. That’s why recurrent terror incidents were recorded on the route almost weekly. But today, that has become a thing of the past,” said Mr Koech.
It is also worth noting that areas such as Milihoi, Mambo Sasa, Lango la Simba and Nyongoro had become notorious terror hotspots that have witnessed hundreds of deaths of civilians and security officers in vehicles plying the route.
In 2018, however, the state established security camps, including military and police in the areas which helped to seal loophole sthat al-Shabaab exploited.
“The improved road network in many parts of Lamu has made it easy for security officers to move from one place to the other while conducting patrols. I mean the road is a simple infrastructure that has greatly changed the security situation here. We’re grateful for the peace and stability,” said Mr Koech.
When the Nation visited the areas previously considered terror-prone, including Juhudi and Salama, residents could be seen going about their duties with ease. Francis Wachira, a resident of Juhudi, says establishing security camps in their villages has contributed to peace.
Juhudi was among the worst hit villages by al-Shabaab in Lamu West.
Between June and December, 2023, the frequent al-Shabaab raids and killings forced over 500 families of Juhudi and surrounding villages such as Salama, Widho and the rest to take refuge at the Juhudi Primary School where an IDP camp was established.
The camp was closed in January, 2024 after the government established security camps and restored peace.
“We're happy that since the establishment of security camps in our villages, we’ve never had any attacks and killings. The last incident of terrorist killing in this place was that of September, 2023 where a watchman at Majembeni Primary School was taken hostage by the terrorists who later beheaded him at Widho-Mashambani. We’e enjoying peace at the moment. No single attack has been witnessed this year,” said Mr Wachira.
Nancy Wangoi, a cotton farmer in Salama, urged the government to introduce various development projects in their remote villages to help open up the area for investment and at the same time, boost the security status.
“We’re happy to see police and military camps established in our villages. Security patrols are also intensified day and night. My plea to the government is that as we head to 2025, we expect to see the road network improved in these villages of ours so that investors can be attracted to invest in our remote places. We want to see cotton and cashew nut factories established here. By doing so, security will automatically be boosted,” said Ms Wangoi.
