Security Heightened In Boni Forest As Heavily Armed Police Dispatched To Lamu, Its Environs

Key points:

Security in Kenya’s Lamu County has been beefed up profusely with heavily armed security officers patrolling the region as the festive fast approaches for the tourism hub of Kenya.

Residents of Lamu County and the security personnel are on high alert on the routes previously used by the al Shabaab militants to access the area and mount attacks.

Summary:

Residents and security agencies are on high alert in Lamu County as a precautionary measure against the al Shabaab militants who prey on innocents during the festive season.

Lamu County is culturally very rich and attracts a lot of tourists both foreigners and domestic making it a very likely target for the militants who are trying to regain their slowly fading legitimacy in their ranks.

Villages like Bodhai, Mararani, Basuba, Mangai and Kiangwi which are along the Lamu-Kiunga road have seen a surge in the number of security officers dispatched. Security has also been amped in the remote area with bad roads and rough terrain especially in Boni Forest that are easily exploited by the militants to gain access.

The Arwe community of hunter and gatherers community have expressed their enthusiasm and confidence in the operation which has been both effective and successful.