Suspected al-Shabaab fighters have attacked a rural area in coastal Kenya, killing at least two locals.
According to Kenyan police statement, the attack happened in the Pandaguo area in Lamu county that neighbors Boni forest.
Kenya security agencies have been conducting an operation in Boni forest near the Kenya-Somalia border since 2015 to flush out Al-Shabaab.
Police said the attackers invaded Taa village, some miles away from the popular tourist destination of Lamu town, and targeted homes in a coordinated manner.
Many villagers ran and hid in bushes as the gang descended on their homes, survivors said.
Coast regional commissioner John Elungata said assailants attacked the village at night but were repulsed by Kenya Police Reservists after a heavy gunfight.
Elungata urged locals to cooperate with security officers on the ground.
“The situation is calm, we have officers patrolling the area and we would like to ask members of the public to tell us what they know to help us in our investigations as we continue hunting them” he said.
