The five policemen who were killed in an ambush by al-Shabaab gunmen in an ambush in Lamu’s Boni Forest have been identified.
The incident happened on April 29. They are corporal Francis Leshan Leashao, constables Rafael Tatio, Benson Mwangi Kariuki, Austin Kipkoech and Reuben Kiang Mokua.
Police authorities said eight other officers from the elite Special Operations Group were injured in the clash in Lehelo area.
They were all young officers who had experience in the operations.
The injured were later flown to Nairobi for specialized treatment, police said.
The team was ambushed as they pursued the gunmen believed operating in the expansive forest.
According to police, the team had been trailing the terrorists for two days following intelligence they were hiding in the forest and planned a large-scale attack.
It was then that they ran into an ambush by a large group of terrorists who were waiting leading to the deaths.
Police believe there were casualties on the side of the attackers.
This is the latest such an attack to happen in the area amid operations to address the trend.
Multi agency teams have mounted operations to address the menace amid continuous attacks.
On Thursday, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen spent Labour Day visiting police officers injured in the line of duty who are undergoing treatment at Nairobi West Hospital.
Nine officers sustained injuries in the fight against crime in various parts of the country while one was injured in Haiti.
Murkomen also revealed that five police officers had died in recent operations across the country.
“Our security officers sacrifice a lot to keep us safe and secure, and they need our support,” said the CS who was flanked by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, DIG (KPS) Eliud Lagat and DIG (APS) Gilbert Masengeli among other senior security officials.
He added that the government is committed to improving the welfare of police officers through various reforms, which include better working conditions and pay as well as enhanced medical care.
The attack came months after the terrorists probed part of the Lamu area in what locals said were part of plans to launch an attack.
The gunmen were mostly armed with AK47 rifles and hooded, witnesses said.
They stormed the villages and lectured locals for about 30 minutes about the importance of respecting Islam and its teachings.
They also the locals not to cooperate with the government, witnesses said.
Before leaving, they warned locals not to tell the police or the military about their presence in the village.
Police have called on locals to share information about the gunmen with security agencies so as to help flush out the militants.
Lamu has for years been the scene of terrorist attacks targeting both locals and security officers.
The most devastating strike happened in Mpeketoni and Kibaoni on the night of June 15, 2014, when more than 90 people were killed.
The area is under special operation code-named Operation Linda Boni to flush out the terrorists there.
The multi-agency operation seeks to flush out al-Shabaab militants from Boni Forest.
More than 100 security agents have been killed in Lamu, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera Counties in IED attacks in past years.
This has affected development at large.
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