NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan government plans to deploy special forces and elite units to the country’s northern and upper coastal regions to tame the threat of terrorism following an increase in terror attacks in the regions, which left tens of people dead.
Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kithure Kindiki, announced the decision on Wednesday just hours after one person was killed, and several homes were burned to ashes after suspected al Shabaab militants raided a village in Lamu County.
The region has been the target of sustained attacks by militants believed to be affiliated to the Somalia-based terror group.
“To effectively deal with the threat of terrorism and violent extremism, the Government is deploying in Northern Kenya and Upper Coastal regions, including Tana River and Lamu Counties, special forces and elite units to ruthlessly pursue and neutralize armed criminals who are terrorizing innocent citizens,” Kindiki said.
Last week, an unknown number of Kenya Defence Forces soldiers were killed after a vehicle they were traveling in ran over an Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in Lamu.
The military has deployed officers to counter the al-Shabaab menace in the region which nears Kenya’s border with Somalia.
On Monday, other soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash.
“We salute and pay homage to our multi-agency security officers who have fallen in the line of duty, defending our nation and its people from criminals,” Kindiki said in his Wednesday address.
A multi-agency security operation is also underway in Kenya’s northern region which is troubled by banditry.
