UPDATE: A few hours after the closure, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) released a statement indicating that Manda Airport had been reopened after being closed temporarily. It was expected to resume normal operations.
The government had closed down the airport in Lamu following an Al Shabaab attack on a US military base.
According to a notice that was released by a local Airline, Fly 540, operations at the Manda Airport in Lamu were halted and all flights cancelled.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a representative from the airline disclosed that the move was commissioned by the state due to security threats in the region.
"Please note that Manda Airport - Lamu has been closed till further notice. All flights to and from Lamu are hereby cancelled," read the notice in part.
On Sunday, January 5, the Al Shabaab extremist group attacked Camp Simba, Manda Bay, which is a US marines training base in Lamu.
Following the attack, the Kenya Defense Forces released a statement confirming that four militants had been killed.
''This morning at around 5:30 am an attempt was made to breach security at Manda Air Strip. The attempted breach was successfully repulsed. Four terrorist bodies have so far been found.
"The airstrip is safe. Arising from the unsuccessful breach a fire broke out affecting some of the fuel tanks located at the airstrip. The fire has been put under control and standard security procedures are now on-going.''
Manda Airport is situated on Manda Island in the Lamu Archipelago.
The airstrip was established between 1962-63 as a landing strip for the colonial administrators.
