The National Government has assured Lamu residents of elaborate security measures to restore normalcy in the county.
Coast regional commissioner John Elungata Monday, held a security meeting in his offices with Lamu leaders led by Governor Fahim Twaha to discuss the security situation in the county following recent attacks in which seven people were killed and others injured.
Elungata reiterated that adequate military and police have been deployed to deal with the attackers behind the insecurity situation in the area.
“They should be no cause for worry because we have discovered where the loophole was and we have sealed it,” added Elungata.
The RC further indicated that multi-agency security personnel have been put in place to protect families in Majembeni locations, who have returned home following improved security.
“We had tension in areas of Juhudi and Kamukunji in Majembeni location, near Kibaoni. In the process, a lot of people left their homestead and we provided them shelter in a nearby school. By this morning a lot of people have started going back. Police and the military have put in place measures to protect them and those in isolated areas,” he reiterated.
The Regional Commissioner assured the residents that the security personnel will deal firmly with any criminals responsible for insecurity cases across the county.
He also revealed that two people were killed on Sunday while escaping from the attackers, adding that security personnel has sealed loopholes that attackers exploited to cause insecurity.
The meeting was also attended by Lamu County commissioner Irungu Macharia, Coast regional police commander Manase Musyoka and other senior national government administrative and security officers.
The Lamu leaders commended the national government’s quick intervention and appealed to the residents to remain peaceful and united while the multi-agency security team dealt with the insecurity.
“People who are behind this area criminal and terrorists and we are not going to sit down with them. They should either be arrested and taken to court or killed on site,” remarked Twaha.
Twaha assured the residents that the county and national governments will resolve outstanding issues including the issuance of title deeds.
“One of the things we have resolved today is to put up a leadership forum of opinion leaders in every sector. We shall have religious, women, youth and people with disability, farmers, herders, and fishers to iron out outstanding issues,” he added.
Lamu West MP Stanley Muthama, his Lamu East counterpart Athman Sharif, Senator Anwar Loitiptip, and Lamu Woman Representative Ruweida Mohamed called on the residents to remain calm and allow security agencies to deal with terrorists and criminals causing insecurity.
Ruweida further called on the security agencies to apprehend those using social media to escalate tension and cause animosity among the residents.
While expressing formidable unity, the leaders stated that the insecurity situation is derailing national government efforts to open Lamu to local and international investments.
“All of us are united and supportive of the necessary action by the national government to bring normalcy and we call upon our people to desist from divisive talks that will erode the government’s efforts to boost security,” stated Muthama.