Human rights activists have condemned the stabbing and injury of a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer on Lamu Island, warning that the attack highlights worsening insecurity in the county and the growing involvement of young people in violent crime.
The incident, which occurred on Friday, caused anxiety among residents and prompted calls for stronger security measures and closer cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the public.
The activists, led by Vocal Africa Chief Executive Hussein Khalid, said the assault on a security officer was a worrying indication that the security situation in Lamu had deteriorated and required immediate intervention from the Ministry of Interior and other relevant agencies.
Hussein said incidents involving youth gangs armed with machetes and knives had become increasingly common in the county, with violence affecting both members of the public and those tasked with maintaining law and order.
"So far, the problem of young people joining gangs and using machetes and knives to attack others in Lamu has become widespread," he said.
"We have seen chiefs killed, young people having their legs cut, and now even security officers are being attacked and stabbed. All this is a clear indication that security has deteriorated in Lamu."
He urged the Ministry of Interior to strengthen security operations in the county by providing officers with additional resources, equipment and specialised training to enable them to tackle the problem more effectively.
Hussein questioned why similar security interventions that have been rolled out in other parts of the country could not be implemented in Lamu, saying the county deserved equal attention in efforts to restore public safety.
At the same time, the activists appealed to residents to support ongoing investigations by sharing any information that could help identify those responsible and prevent further acts of violence.
Lamu Civil Society Organisation chairman Shakir Ahmed called on young people to reject violence and avoid joining criminal groups, saying every member of society had a responsibility to protect the lives of others.
"Every member of the community must obey the law and value the lives of fellow residents. We urge young people to stay away from violent groups and instead work with community leaders to promote peace and strengthen security,” he said.
Resident Zeinab Ahmed also condemned the attack, describing assaults on security officers as unacceptable.
"We strongly condemn these attacks on security officers and appeal to members of the public to cooperate with security agencies in maintaining peace across our county," she said.
Vocal Africa Coast Coordinator Walid Sketty said improving security required support beyond the police, arguing that political leaders also had a role to play in fostering peace.
He said responsibility for public safety should not rest solely with law enforcement agencies but should be shared by political leaders, security officials and local communities.
"We are calling on politicians from the Coast region to engage directly with communities and support dialogue involving residents and the security agencies so that incidents such as this do not happen again," Walid said.
The activists maintained that restoring security in Lamu would require coordinated efforts between government agencies, political leaders and local communities to address the underlying causes of violence while strengthening public confidence in law enforcement.
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