Acting Interior CS Fred Matiang’i addressing journalists at the Coast Provincial headquarters in Mombasa on Thursday. [Photo/ Maxwell Ngala]
Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has refuted claims that the attacks and killings experienced in Lamu County are politically instigated.Addressing journalists at the Coast Provincial headquarters in Mombasa on Thursday, Matiang’i said the attacks were undertaken by al- Shabaab militia.He said investigations carried out by the government established that the militia men hide in Boni forest, attack residents, and then retreat to their hide outs.“There are no community clashes in Lamu County and the insecurity incidences are not politically instigated,” said Matiang’i.The CS said the multi-agency Linda Boni Operation in Lamu will be enhanced to ensure it covers the entire county.“There is no way the government will relent on this; they will bomb it to ensure that al-Shabaab militants are flashed out of the forest.Matiang’i said the operation launched in 2014 has yielded fruits though more needs to be done to ensure Lamu County and all the parts of the country are secure.Last week, Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa fired Hindi location chief following the killing of four people in the area.Marwa further claimed that the al-Shabaab militia bribe security agents in Kiunga and other Lamu Somali border points to be allowed access into the country.He demanded a report from Linda Boni Operation director Joseph Kanyiri, adding that all security officers who will fail in their mandate will be fired.