Interior PS Karanja Kibicho, on Thursday, October 29, explained how a five-year forest fight in Lamu gobbled up Ksh50 billion of taxpayers money.
The Nation reported that the money was spent in the fight against Al Shabaab militia at Boni Forest under operation 'Linda Boni'.
Kibicho noted that the money was spent in the acquisition of military equipment and that the investment had paid off.
The PS disclosed that Kenya Defense Forces launched operations in 2015 to flash out the militia that had been using the forest as their base to launch attacks in Mpeketoni.
Kibicho also revealed that insecurity in the area had reduced significantly since the mission was launched.
"Five years ago, places such as Hindi, Mpeketoni and Boni Forest were uninhabitable because of the insecurity caused by al-Shabaab terrorists.
"But within the same five year period, the government has invested over Sh50 billion to undertake the ''Linda Boni'' operation," stated Kibicho.
“As we speak, Lamu is enjoying peace. In fact, schools in Boni Forest were reopened and pupils are learning like the rest of Kenyans," he added.
Since 2015, several attacks had been lodged in Mpeketoni, Lamu County, allegedly by Al Shabaab militia leading to loss of lives.
In December 2015, armed militia attacked a lorry and a police patrol vehicle opening fire on occupants.
The attack at Milihoi near Mpeketoni left one person dead with several others injured.
In January 2016, three people were killed following an attack by Al Shabaab militants at Kaisari Village in Pandanguo.
During the attack where several other people sustained injuries, heavily armed gunmen ambushed a village in the area where they torched a number of houses.
