Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, has ordered a dusk to dawn curfew in parts of Lamu County.
In a statement dated Wednesday, January 5, the Interior boss stated that the 6pm to 6am curfew will take effect immediately.
The order follows the increased incidences of criminal attacks in the area which have led to the destruction of property and loss of lives.
"In accordance with Section 106 (1) of the National Police Service Act, 2011, the National Security Council (NSC) has declared the following parts of Lamu County as Disturbed Areas," read the statement in part.
"Majembeni, Ndamwe, Mkunumbi, Pandanguo, Witu, Hamasi and Binde Warinde locations."
Other areas are Bomani, Pongwe, Mpeketoni, Bahari, Mapenya and Hindi locations will also be under the 12-hour restriction.
NSC further directed the immediate deployment of a multi-agency team to mop-up illegal firearms and activities in the affected areas.
Residents in the disturbed areas have also been asked to cooperate with the security agencies and share information on suspicious persons and activities.
On Wednesday, two residents were abducted by suspected members of Al Shabaab militia group at Kibokoni Hindi area. The attack came barely a week after six people lost their lives in a separate attack in Widho.
Speaking to the media on January 3, Coast Regional Commissioner, John Elungata, linked the attack to an ongoing land dispute between squatters and ranch owners in the region.
Elungata assured constituents of safety, noting that officers had been deployed to track down the perpetrators of the cowardly attack.
