Intelligence reports have identified Idris Kamau, a Kenyan of Kikuyu ethnicity, as the mastermind behind the recent terror attacks in Lamu County, which have claimed 87 lives. The information is contained in a report prepared by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and sent to police stations in the Coast region on June 4.
The NIS report also names Abu Jamal, a former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier, as the leader of an Al Shabaab cell in Mombasa, which is planning more attacks in the region. According to the report, Kamau and his group of fighters are hiding in the Boni Forest, where they have set up an operations camp.
Planned Attacks ¶
The report warns of planned attacks in Mokowe and Kipini in Lamu County, as well as in Ijara, Garsen, and Malindi in Kilifi County. The attack in Malindi is expected to involve around 150 fighters, divided into three groups.
The report also notes that the two field commanders of the terror group are planning to recruit more Muslim youth in Mombasa to undergo training for their jihadist causes at an undisclosed location in or near the port city.
Investigation and Arrests ¶
An investigator told The Standard on Sunday that a Toyota pickup truck belonging to the son of a Hindi tycoon would occasionally pick up food from two young men of Somali origin who had rented a room in Hindi. The two men and their wives disappeared on the night of the attack on Malamande and Hindi villages, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
Lamu Governor Issa Timamy has been arrested and charged with crimes of murder, forcible transfer of people, and terrorism. He is currently out on bond. A prominent landowner in Lamu, Mahadi Swaleh Mahadi, alias Jesus, was also arrested and charged with similar crimes.
Security Challenges ¶
The security forces have faced challenges in responding to the attacks, including the use of bad weather by the attackers and the difficulty of navigating the thick Boni Forest. The police have also been criticized for releasing suspects without proper investigation, and for not providing adequate support to Kenya Police Reservists (KPR) who have been assisting in the operation.
The KPR officers have been working without pay or operational allowances, and have had to use their own resources to fuel their motorbikes and accompany police on patrol duties. The Kenya Red Cross has made a token donation to the KPR officers, but the government is yet to reward them for their efforts.
The recovered account cited reporting by Nation.
