Suspected arsonists burn house on Manda Island

Manda Island in Lamu County on the Kenya coast. GOOGLE MAPS

What you need to know:

  • The house is said to have been the first to be built on the island three decades ago and has been abandoned for about 20 years.
  • Lamu County has witnessed several attacks in the last few days, with the most recent raid at Jima farm on Sunday where gunmen on foot shot in the air before harvesting green maize.

Unknown people set fire to an abandoned private house early Monday morning at Ras Kitau on Manda Island in Lamu County.

The house is said to have been the first to be built on the island three decades ago and has been abandoned for about 20 years.

Police are questioning neighbours, including the caretaker of the house, said Amos Cheboi, the Lamu West Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD), who confirmed the incident.

The security officers were also combing the area hunting for the suspected arsonists, Mr Cheboi said.

He said police officers were investigating the incident, adding that they suspected some people may have taken advantage of the security situation in the area to commit the crime.

Lamu County has witnessed several attacks in the last few days, with the most recent raid happening at Jima farm on Sunday, when gunmen on foot shot in the air before proceeding to harvest green maize from the farm.

The attacks started on the night of June 15 and 16, when gunmen raided Mpeketoni town, killing 60 people and burning property, including vehicles and a police station. Subsequent attacks in other areas within the county have led to more deaths and the displacement of people.