MPEKETONI (MOMBASA) ATTACK

MORE THAN 48 PEOPLE ARE FEARED DEAD FOLLOWING A DEADLY ATTACK IN MPEKETONI, LAMU. THE POLICE HAVE BLAMED THE ATTACKS ON AL SHABAAB. HOWEVER, POLITICAL ANALYST MUTAHI NGUNYI HAS SAID THAT BLAMING THE ATTACK ON AL SHABAAB IS NAÏVE ADDING THAT MRC IS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACKS

Mpeketoni attack: These vehicles were burned down by suspected Al Shabaab/ MRC militia. Photo: Twitter

Its feared that the death toll could rise since more bodies were found in bushes in over a 10 km radius.

Mpeketoni police station, two hotels and a petrol station were attacked and burned down during the incident, some reports say that the attackers escaped with weapons and police vehicles from the police station.  The two hotels, Breeze View and Taweel were burned down and smoke was still billowing from the two establishments Monday morning

The attackers had earlier hijacked two Nissan Matatus(PSV) in Witu area before launching the Mpeketoni attacks. Residents ran and took cover in their homes as police officers engaged in gunfight with the attackers. An eye witness said that the attackers were heard yelling “ ambieni baba(President Kenyatta) yenu atoe jeshi Somalia”- tell your president to remove Kenyan troops from Somalia.

Nissan matatu vans that were burned during the attack in Mpeketoni, Lamu

Just last month, the UK warned of impending attacks in Mombasa and surrounding coastal areas and evacuated British tourists from coastal hotels. They also closed their consular office in Mombasa two days ago.