Mpeketoni residents stage protest over frequent Al-Shabaab terror attacks
Residents of Mpeketoni and Poromoko wait outside Mpeketoni Sub County Hospital mortuary where bodies of three people killed by suspected Al-Shabaab militants on January 31, 2016 were taken. The residents later staged protests over the frequent terror attacks. PHOTO | ATHMAN OMAR | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- They also questioned the ongoing Operation Linda Boni saying it had totally failed in its objective.
- By Sunday evening, residents from the affected villages started moving away with their families and property for fear of more attacks.
- Herders from the villages were also seen moving their animals from the villages to safer zones.
- Transport was temporarily paralysed in Kibaoni on Sunday evening as over 500 head of cattle were being evacuated by the herders from Kaisari.
More than 400 residents of Mpeketoni in Lamu County have protested over increased insecurity and frequent terror attacks by Al-Shabaab militia which have been experienced in the region in the recent past.
On Sunday morning, three people were killed by suspected Al-Shabaab attackers in Kaisari Village. Several others were injured.
The protests took place shortly after the bodies of the three arrived at the Mpeketoni Sub County Hospital mortuary.
The residents who carried placards and sang sorrowful songs asked the government to state what exactly was being done to address insecurity in Lamu.
They also questioned the ongoing Operation Linda Boni, which aims at flushing out Al-Shabaab militants from the expansive Boni Forest, saying it had totally failed in its objective.
“We are tired of the killings of our people by Al-Shabaab each and every day. The government should come out and state the progress of the Linda Boni security operation.
“Since it was launched on September 11 last year, attacks keep on rising by the day.
“We want the government to tell us how the operation is supposed to benefit us. It is five months now but we have not experienced any changes,” said Mr Alexander Mutua.
HUNDREDS FLEE VILLAGES
Meanwhile, hundreds of residents have been seen fleeing their homes in Kaisari and surrounding villages of Poromoko, Nyatha and Jima in Lamu following the Sunday attack.
By Sunday evening, residents from the affected villages started moving away with their families and property for fear of more attacks.
Most of those who fled headed to Kibaoni, Pangani, Koreni and Mkunumbi.
The Nation also established that there is high possibility that a temporary camp may be established at Pangani since many of the villagers were arriving there on Sunday morning and early Monday.
“We fear for our lives and we can’t continue staying in our villagers any longer. What matters now is our safety.
“These attacks have become too much and we no longer feel safe staying around. We feel the terrorists are just within and could still come back to finish us,” said Mr Ali Gure of Jima Village.
Herders from the villages were also seen moving their animals from the villages to safer zones.
Transport was temporarily paralysed in Kibaoni on Sunday evening as over 500 head of cattle were being evacuated by the herders from Kaisari, Jima and Poromoko, causing a traffic jam.
Many of the herders camped in the town with their livestock.
“Since 11am, we have seen herders coming from Kaisari and Jima headed to Koreni and Mkunumbi.
“I have so far counted over 500 head of cattle that have past here since morning, just hours after the three people were killed in Kaisari Village,” said Mr Johnson Kamau, a resident of Kibaoni.
