Public Works PS Mariam El Maawy Abducted Alongside 5 Others in Lamu County

Public Works Principal Secretary (PS) Mariam El Maawy was on Thursday shot and injured by Al Shabaab militants who killed three other people in the attack.

Ms El Maawy and five others were travelling to Witu area in Lamu County when they were ambushed by gunmen at Milihoi area along the Mpeketoni-Lamu Road.

The militants are said to have hijacked the Prado the six were travelling in but upon noticing they were being pursued by KDF soldiers they opened fire at the hostages.

Ms El Maawy was shot in the shoulder and leg while three perished after suffering serious injuries.

Reports indicated that occupants of the Prado were Ms El Maawy, four policemen and a driver.

The PS was taken to Mpeketoni Hospital by a team of elite Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers and General Service Unit (GSU) officers who rescued them.

The group was hijacked at around 3 pm while heading to Witu area to visit displaced families.

Maawy had earlier on attended a meeting on Lamu Port (LAPSSET) at Huduma Centre in Lamu town before heading to Witu.

Coast Police Commander James Akoru confirmed the incident stating that it occurred at around 3 pm.

"We are yet to receive proper information about the incident but the reports we have is that a vehicle has been hijacked," said Mr Akoru      

Security officers have since launched an operation to hunt down the militants.

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