Gunmen shoot watchman dead at beach hotel

What you need to know:

  • The watchman may have recognised them hence the shooting, he said. The men had asked for drinking water but the guards became suspicious, according to the manager.
  • The explosive was targeted at a group of people who were chewing miraa at Green View near the National Cereals and Produce Board depot around 7pm. No one was injured.
  • Later, another grenade was found near the entrance to a residential building and some people suspected to be responsible were found at the scene, according to a police report.

A security guard was shot dead but his colleague escaped when gunmen raided The Sands at Chale Island Hotel in Diani.

Mr Cleophas Wanyonyi was shot in the back and head on Sunday night as he was running away from the attackers.

The hotel’s managing director, Mr Mario Scanianna, said the attackers were 10. He said they wore what appeared to be police jackets and pretended to be officers on patrol.

The watchman may have recognised them hence the shooting, he said. The men had asked for drinking water but the guards became suspicious, according to the manager.

Kwale County Commissioner Evans Achoki said police officers had been deployed in the area.

On the same night, unknown people hurled a grenade at a residential area in Mandera Town.

CHEWING MIRAA

The explosive was targeted at a group of people who were chewing miraa at Green View near the National Cereals and Produce Board depot around 7pm. No one was injured.

Security personnel in the border town have intensified patrols in search of the attackers.

A resident spotted a grenade around 10pm and alerted police. Later, another grenade was found near the entrance to a residential building and some people suspected to be responsible were found at the scene, according to a police report.

At 1.30am, about 10 people were seen trying to get near the town’s main power station but they were repulsed by police, the report indicates.

Mandera Deputy County Commissioner Elvis Korir said he could not verify whether any suspects had been arrested.

The incident happened barely three days after President Kenyatta signed tough new anti-terrorism laws.