A Kenyan naval ship patrols the Lamu coastline, on Sunday. On Saturday, suspected pirates from Somalia attacked Manda Island and kidnapped a disabled, elderly French woman.
Kenyan and French security teams may be mobilising to attack bases used by Al-Shabaab fighters in the Southern Somalia after the militia group abducted a French tourist.
Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula on Sunday said the Government would not sit and watch as Al-Shabaab continues to launch attacks on its citizens and foreign tourists.
Wetangula declared that Kenyan forces have the ability and resources of wiping out the militia.
“We have since decided to follow them (Al-Shabaab) to Somalia going by recent incidents in the Kenyan territory,” he said.
The latest efforts to rescue French tourist Ms Marie Dideu comes barely a month after two Britons, David and his wife Judith Tebutt were attacked in Lamu, leading to the death of the former and Judith’s abduction.
The latest efforts to rescue French tourist Ms Marie Dideu comes barely a month after two Britons, David and his wife Judith Tebutt were attacked in Lamu, leading to the death of the former and Judith’s abduction.
Tourism Minister Najib Balala also announced the Kenyan security forces are doing everything they can to rescue the tourist.
“We are using all means to rescue the woman, including sending local leaders to negotiate for the release of the tourist,” said Balala.
On Monday, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere leads a team of security officers who will join Balala in a delegation to assess the level of security in the Lamu area.
Over the last two months, armed bandits have used speedboats in the middle of the night to grab two foreigners before escaping with them into Somalia.
The Government says it has increased security in the area but it is not clear why it has taken the kidnapping of the two women and killing of one man for such belated action to be taken.
“We are using all means to rescue the woman, including sending local leaders to negotiate for the release of the tourist,” said Balala.
On Monday, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere leads a team of security officers who will join Balala in a delegation to assess the level of security in the Lamu area.
Over the last two months, armed bandits have used speedboats in the middle of the night to grab two foreigners before escaping with them into Somalia.
The Government says it has increased security in the area but it is not clear why it has taken the kidnapping of the two women and killing of one man for such belated action to be taken.
Travel advisory
“This is an international issue and we will require the support of everyone instead of giving travel advisories,” Balala said, adding that there was urgent need to collectively address the issue although the Government was doing everything possible to rescue its visitors.
“We have sent mediators into Somalia as we try to find a lasting solution to deal with the problem.”
“This is an international issue and we will require the support of everyone instead of giving travel advisories,” Balala said, adding that there was urgent need to collectively address the issue although the Government was doing everything possible to rescue its visitors.
“We have sent mediators into Somalia as we try to find a lasting solution to deal with the problem.”
Last evening, Aljazeera TV also reported that French forces based in Djibouti had been seen leaving their base and heading south towards the Somalia coast.
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office last evening revised its travel advisory in Kenya by asking its nationals not to travel to within 150km of the Kenya-Somalia border, widening it from the previously stated 60km.
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office last evening revised its travel advisory in Kenya by asking its nationals not to travel to within 150km of the Kenya-Somalia border, widening it from the previously stated 60km.
It also emerged that Kenyan defence forces engaged Al-Shabaab militia in a fierce gun battle in the Indian Ocean waters on Saturday, as they tried to rescue the French tourist.
A statement from the Department of Defence Headquarters Public Affairs office said Kenya Navy officers faced-off with heavily armed members of the militant group off the Manda Island, in Lamu.
A statement from the Department of Defence Headquarters Public Affairs office said Kenya Navy officers faced-off with heavily armed members of the militant group off the Manda Island, in Lamu.
“We can confirm our officers were engaged in an exchange of gunfire in the thick of night against Al-Shabaab fighters and we killed two in the process of combat,” said the statement.
The statement, however, said nothing about two missing Navy fighters whose whereabouts sources said remained unknown. But other sources from within the armed forces indicated a boat belonging to the Navy capsized during the battle.
The statement, however, said nothing about two missing Navy fighters whose whereabouts sources said remained unknown. But other sources from within the armed forces indicated a boat belonging to the Navy capsized during the battle.
On Sunday, a Kenya Navy officer said: “It was heavy fighting between the Kenya Navy officers and the militants. The Kenyan defence forces gave chase until a place called Odo but the fighters disappeared to Gurukavu area in Somali.
“The exchange forced the military officers to engage the Kenya Air Force in repulsing the attackers, but we were acting sparingly because we did not want to endanger the life of the tourist Ms Marie Dideu.”
Boat capsized
The Department of Defence (DoD) disputed claims a boat capsized after the militia sank it, and instead blamed the stormy waters for the mishap.
A Navy officer who was caught in the crossfire was taken to Mombasa for a medical check-up in what a statement from the public relations office termed “normal treatment after an operation.”
“The exchange forced the military officers to engage the Kenya Air Force in repulsing the attackers, but we were acting sparingly because we did not want to endanger the life of the tourist Ms Marie Dideu.”
Boat capsized
The Department of Defence (DoD) disputed claims a boat capsized after the militia sank it, and instead blamed the stormy waters for the mishap.
A Navy officer who was caught in the crossfire was taken to Mombasa for a medical check-up in what a statement from the public relations office termed “normal treatment after an operation.”
A third sailor who is reported to be in the rank of Major sustained injuries after the inflatable vessel they were in capsized following rough weather in the Indian Ocean.
Authorities were tight lipped over the incident with several calls made to the DoD spokesman, John Mwandikwa going unanswered.
Authorities were tight lipped over the incident with several calls made to the DoD spokesman, John Mwandikwa going unanswered.
Meanwhile, tension continued to build on the Lamu archipelago with several locals and investors in the tourism industry calling for beefing up of security.
Questions were also asked about the capability of Kenya Navy Base at Navy Island, a short distance from the scene of the abduction.
The state of the Navy’s patrol boats was brought to the fore as well as their safety and that of military officers manning them, after reports of missing officers.
The suspected Al-Shabaab militants reportedly attacked and sunk the Kenyan vessel as they neared the abductors.
Questions were also asked about the capability of Kenya Navy Base at Navy Island, a short distance from the scene of the abduction.
The state of the Navy’s patrol boats was brought to the fore as well as their safety and that of military officers manning them, after reports of missing officers.
The suspected Al-Shabaab militants reportedly attacked and sunk the Kenyan vessel as they neared the abductors.
Questions were directed at operations command with sources at the Navy base saying the use of US-made boats required specialised training. The boats were acquired about fours years ago and this was the second fatal accident in which they were involved.
In December 2008, a similar accident occurred and a navy officer died during a routine patrol.
In December 2008, a similar accident occurred and a navy officer died during a routine patrol.
Injured officerOne of the officers injured in the Saturday night standoff was transported to Nairobi for further treatment. On Sunday, local boat operators from Lamu Island decried the insecurity following incursions by suspected Al-Shabaab militia.
Mr Babu Mzee, a chef onboard a sail dhow that specialises in island- hopping cruises in the Lamu archipelago, said they lost their vessel to unknown people after it disappeared while at anchor last Saturday.
Mr Babu Mzee, a chef onboard a sail dhow that specialises in island- hopping cruises in the Lamu archipelago, said they lost their vessel to unknown people after it disappeared while at anchor last Saturday.
“We were to take a group of American students on a study tour of Lamu to Kipungani Resort on Saturday morning but found out that it was not at anchorage,” he said.
He said they had reported the matter to the police who were investigating.
The local Provincial Administration in Lamu was holed up in a meeting at the Lamu Palace Hotel, with area DC Stephen Ikua chairing a crisis session.
British High Commission’s Political Counsellor, Mr Michael Nevin flew to Lamu and also attended the meeting.
However, Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association chairman, Mr Mohamed Hersi reiterated that Kenya was still a safe destination.
He said they had reported the matter to the police who were investigating.
The local Provincial Administration in Lamu was holed up in a meeting at the Lamu Palace Hotel, with area DC Stephen Ikua chairing a crisis session.
British High Commission’s Political Counsellor, Mr Michael Nevin flew to Lamu and also attended the meeting.
However, Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association chairman, Mr Mohamed Hersi reiterated that Kenya was still a safe destination.
He said that the French woman who lived as a resident by virtue of her engagement to a local, was “open to risk like ordinary Kenyans.”
“It should not escape the fact that Kenya borders Somalia which is a lawless border state. Even the United Nations has done little to try and reverse the trend there,’’ said Hersi, who is also Regional General Manager for Sarova Hotels-Coast.
“It should not escape the fact that Kenya borders Somalia which is a lawless border state. Even the United Nations has done little to try and reverse the trend there,’’ said Hersi, who is also Regional General Manager for Sarova Hotels-Coast.
Source The Standard
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