Saturday July 1, 2023
IG Koome with other security officials in Lamu on June 30, 2023. He held a meeting with residents and assured them of their security
Inspector General of police Japhet Koome on Friday flew to Lamu for a series of security meetings amid fears of more terror attacks.
His visit came hours after security chiefs on Thursday night averted a planned attack in Kibokoni, chasing a gang of about 50 that had planned a massacre.
Officials aware of the situation said gunshots were heard in the area before the gang fled.
Koome arrived in Lamu and held meetings with the multi-agency teams involved in the ongoing security operations to ensure peace and tranquility prevails in the area.
Terrorists are hiding in the larger Boni Forest in Lamu.
At least five men were beheaded and several houses torched in an al Shabaab attack in Salama and Juhudi villages in Mkunumbi division, Lamu county, last Saturday night.
“We are here to ensure protection for all and we will do all we can to protect you,” Koome said in a meeting with residents.
He had last week visited parts of Garissa county, which is also facing terror threats.
Terrorists last month left more than 30 people dead. Most of the victims were security officers.
They have been planting improvised explosives on the routes used by the security officials killing, maiming many and destroying property.
There are fears of more attacks in the border region, amid calls for intensified operations to stop the trend.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki visited Lamu two weeks ago for a three-day tour to assess the security situation in the region.
He said the government will do whatever it takes to fight and end the terror menace in the country.
“We have already set aside Sh20 billion to purchase advanced security equipment, including armoured personnel carrier vehicles, drones and other gadgets so that our security agencies get proper safety as they effectively fight the terrorists," the CS said.
The border region has borne the brunt of repeated attacks from the militants who are at times aided by locals.
Somalia has not had a stable government after the fall of Siad Barre in 1991.
The area is near the Somalia border and the militants usually cross at will and stage attacks before escaping back.
Kenyan troops are in Somalia to pursue and suppress the activities of the terror group.
Boni Forest is an operation zone as the national government has since 2015 conducted a multi-agency security exercise dubbed Linda Boni, which is aimed at flushing out al Shabaab militants believed to be hiding there.
Kenya began the construction of the 700-kilometre long wall in 2015.
The wall, which is known as the Kenya-Somalia border securitisation project is among others meant to secure the country from attacks by al Shabaab terrorists.
The project plan includes having designated immigration and custom entry points with a two-foot-tall concrete wall fitted with CCTV cameras.
Trenches are also being constructed in the area.
The plan includes the creation of at least 22 border posts with well-equipped personnel to respond to any form of aggression.
Officials say once complete, the teams will be spread 40km apart to enable quick response to attacks from militants.
A team of more than 200 special forces has been deployed to the area to help tame the growing terror threats.