One person has been killed by suspected al Shabaab militants in Bobo-Sunkia village in Hindi division, Lamu west on Monday.
The death was confirmed by Lamu county commissioner Irungu Machariawho said the deceased was killed in the same fashion as the six who were massacred in Witho area on Sunday night.
The old man who has been identified as John Gichoya, 62, had his hands and legs bound behind his back before he was slaughtered by the suspected militants and his house set ablaze with the body inside.
The militants also torched two more houses in the village before vanishing.
The commissioner said investigations are underway to ascertain the true identity of the killers and their motive.
He said security patrols have been heightened in the areas even as officers pursue the suspected militants.
“One person, a male adult was killed inside his house in the same manner as the six who were killed on Witho on Sunday. We suspect militants but we are investigating to find out their true identities. We have heightened patrols in those areas and across the entire county,” said Macharia.
The group of militants numbering over 30 is said to have fled into the bushes upon hearing police sirens who responded to distress calls from locals.
“The police responded right on time because we believe the militants planned to raid more villages but their plans were thwarted by the arrival of security officers,” said an administrator.
The killings come just a day after six people were killed by suspected al-Shabaab militants at Witho shopping centre in Lamu East.
The six bodies have since been taken to the Mpeketoni hospital morgue.
According to a police report, four people were set ablaze inside the Murimi Mangwe drinking den and burnt beyond recognition.
Police have since identified the four as the den owner John Murimi and his three casuals namely, Peter Musyoka, Maina Wanjege and peter Maina.
All the deceased persons had their hands tied from behind.
Villagers described a group of about 30 militants who roamed the area killing people and setting buildings ablaze.
The fifth person identified as Joseph Mwangi who is also the village elder at Witho was beheaded at his home and his house torched.
He also had multiple stab wounds on his stomach.
The sixth casualty was identified as Francis Kamau who had mysteriously disappeared on Sunday morning before his body was found along the road within Witho shopping centre.
The body had gunshot wounds to the head and he had also been killed execution-style.
The group of militants also torched several houses within the locality and property of unknown value was burnt.
The attacks come in the wake of a security operation Amani Boni that was launched by the national government in 2015 with a view to flush out al- Shabaab militants from the Boni forest.
Despite the heavy security presence in the areas, there have been continued reports of militia presence and attacks in Lamu and areas along the border.
This also comes barely a week after a spate of killings and destruction of property by the Somali militants in Kiunga village on the Lamu-Somalia border.
On New Year, boda boda rider Nassir Ali Mohammed died on the spot after his bike ran over an explosive suspected to have been planted by militants who had earlier been sighted in the area.
He was ferrying Miraa Kiunga close to the Kenya-Somalia border when his motorcycle was hit, killing him on the spot. BY THE STAR