Briton killed, wife kidnapped in Kenyan coast

A massive security operations was mounted in Kiwayu, north of Lamu Island near the Kenya-Somali border, after armed gunmen raided a tourist resort and shot dead a British national and abducted his wife.

The couple was attacked early Sunday, minutes after midnight at the exclusive Kiwayu Safari village, a private tourist resort within Kiunga.

Police commissioner Mathew Iteere identified the deceased as Mr David Tebbut and his wife Mrs Judith Tebbut.

He said the couple was attacked at their cottage and that they were the only guests at the resort, having checked in at 4pm on Saturday.

Six police officers are usually stationed at the resort and the management employs 21 security guards.

“So far we are treating it as a bandit attack. We’ve not linked it to terrorism. We’ve not received any hint pointing at a terror group,” said Mr Iteere.

He added that the attackers wanted to take away the couple but Mr Tebbut resisted before he was shot. The police chief said the couple were writers.

“They (gunmen) gained entry very easily because only a piece of cloth was used in the place of the door,” Mr Iteere said.

The victim died of a single shot fired at close range and the attackers escaped in a motor boat, taking away the woman.

“They (gunmen) may contact us demanding for a ransom. Maybe they are from Somalia but we cannot be certain,” said Mr Iteere.

The couple had spent a week at the Masai Mara before travelling to the resort.

The abductors are said to have been headed to Somalia where they planned to hold the woman hostage.