Scare in Lamu as gunmen shoot at bus

Tana Delta sub-county assistant Commissioner Mike Kimoko. Commissioner Kimoko said security agents are searching for the gunmen who sporadically shot at a Lamu bound bus on December 20, 2014 at an area between Tana River and Lamu counties. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Three hooded men who were armed boarded the bus and identified themselves as “Mujahedeen”, and asked the passengers their faith.
  • A joint security meeting of KDF and all police agencies will be held on Monday to strategise how to deal with any emerging threat over the festive season and after.
  • Outgoing Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo slapped a curfew in Lamu following attacks in the county that left a trail of death and destruction.

About 45 passengers escaped death narrowly after gunmen sporadically shot at a Lamu bound bus Saturday afternoon at an area between Tana River and Lamu counties.

The attack comes two days after President Uhuru Kenyatta assented to the security laws.

The heavily armed gunmen fired at the Tawakal Bus Company bus which had about 45 passengers onboard.

A passenger, Mr Adan Gobu, told the Sunday Nation that they were attacked as the bus approached the end of the tarmacked Garsen-Witu Road near Nyongoro area.  

“I just heard gunshots. We all went under our seats and started praying, expecting the worst to happen and the bus stopped immediately,” said Mr Gobu.

RECITING THE KORAN

Three hooded men who were armed boarded the bus and identified themselves as “Mujahedeen”, and asked the passengers their faith.

Mr Gobu said the gunmen then went to the driver’s cabin and enquired where the bus was headed to.

“They disembarked after they heard the passengers reciting shahada and other verses of the Koran,” he said.

An official of the bus company, who declined to be named, said the gunmen deflated six tyres and destroyed the fuel tank.

He said passengers were transferred into another bus and taken to Witu trading centre.

“The windscreens were also smashed. But we are happy that no one was injured,” said the official.

Security officers from Tana River and Lamu counties are said to be pursuing the attackers.

STRATEGY MEETING
Tana Delta sub-county assistant Commissioner Mike Kimoko said KDF, General Service Unit, Administration and regular police officers were dispatched to the area after the attack on the bus.

The administrator said the attack was “a positive indication that Al-Shabaab terrorists are present in the region.”

A joint security meeting of KDF and all police agencies will be held on Monday to strategise how to deal with any emerging threat over the festive season and after, said Mr Kimoko.

Outgoing Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo slapped a curfew in Lamu following attacks in the county that left a trail of death and destruction.

Political leaders have protested the move, saying it dampens business. But Mr Kimaiyo has maintained the position. The curfew is in force until December 24.

Lawyers have taken the government to court over the dusk-to-dawn curfew.

CURFEW UNJUSTIFIED
The Law Society of Kenya says the curfew imposed by Inspector-General Kimaiyo is unconstitutional.

Mr Anthony Oluoch, for the LSK, told the courts earlier this month that the lifting of the curfew would enable the people of Lamu enjoy the festive season without fear of being arrested.

“The curfew is unjustified. There seems to be an underlying motive to bring Lamu’s economy down. The curfew is a threat to security in itself as it has led to social insecurity,” he said.

Mr Kimaiyo imposed the curfew on June 20 in the aftermath of the Mpeketoni massacre in which 60 people were killed. The extension of the curfew will run till December 24.

Additional reports by Daniel Nyassy