The government has announced a 30-day dusk-to-dawn curfew in parts of Lamu West and Central sub-counties over rising insecurity that has seen seven people killed since Sunday .
The curfew that begins tonight will affect Majembeni, Ndamwe and Mkunumbi locations in Mkunumbi Division; Pandanguo, Binde Warinde, Witu and Hamasi Locations in Witu Division.
Others affected areas are Bomani, Pongwe, Mpeketoni, Bahari and Mapenya locations in Mpeketoni Division and Hindi locations in Lamu Central sub-county.
“In accordance with section 106 (1) of the National Police Service Act, 2011, the National Security Council has declared the following parts of Lamu County as disturbed areas and ordered a dusk-to-dawn curfew for a period of 30 days effective January 5, 2022,” a statement by Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i notes.
Matiang’i added that the National Security Council has also directed the immediate deployment of a multi-agency team to mop-up illegal firearms and activities in the affected areas.
He advised residents living in the marked zones to cooperate with security agencies and share information on suspicious persons and activities.
Hands were tied before they were lynched
Tension has been high in the county since Sunday night when suspected Al-Shabaab militants killed six people in Witho village and torched several houses in the attack that was orchestrated by dozens of armed militia.
Amongst the victims were a liquor den owner and his three assistants whose hands were tied before they were lynched.
The other two were a village elder and a local who were beheaded and shot, respectively.
Lamu County Commander Moses Muriithi confirmed that the two were abducted at Kibokoni area in Lamu West at around 5pm, Tuesday.
"We received reports from the wine tapper that they had gone to the forest to tap mkoma only for them to be abducted by unknown people. One of them escaped and he is assisting us in tracing the other two, whose whereabouts are still unknown. Search is on,” Mr Muriithi said.
The incidents have left locals in fear of attacks and abductions amid calls for heightened security in the region.
