Kenya’s Interior Ministry on Wednesday imposed a 30-day dusk-to-dawn curfew on areas affected by insecurity in its coastal Lamu County following a surge of attacks in the region.
Seven people have been killed and two others abducted in the past two days.
“Incidences of criminal attacks that have led to the loss of seven innocent lives have been reported in Widho Sub-location, Majembeni Location of Lamu County and Lamu Central Subcounty,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The attacks have also occasioned the destruction of private property and unsettled residents in the affected and surrounding areas,” the ministry said.
“Residents in the Disturbed Areas are requested to cooperate with the security agencies and to share information on suspicious persons and activities.”
The affected areas in Lamu West Sub-County include Mukunumbi Division, Majembeni location, Ndamwe Location, Mkunumbi Location. In Witu Division, the affected places include Pandanguo Location,
Binde Warinde location, Witu location and Hamasi Location.
In Mpeketoni Division the affected areas include Bomani Location, Pongwe Location, Mpeketoni Location, Bahari Location and Mapenya Location in Lamu Central Sub-County. Hindi Division’s Hindi location.
The statement follows a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) held Wednesday under the chairmanship of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
According to The Star, five suspects were arrested Tuesday over the attack at Widhu Majembeni area.
“All the suspects are locals and we are talking to them to establish more over the attack,” National Police Service spokesperson Bruno Shioso said.