NAIROBI, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan government has imposed a 12-hour curfew in three months following increased Al-Shabaab terror attacks in the restive regions which are near the Somalia border.
Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fed Matiangi said the three-month dusk to dawn curfew, which runs until Oct. 9, in Lamu, Tana River and Garissa counties is aimed at addressing terror related incidents.
"This order shall apply during the hours of darkness between the period of 6.30 p.m. in the evening and 6.30 a.m. in the morning," Matiang'i said in a Gazette notice dated July 8.
At least ten people were beheaded by the Islamist militants in Pandanguo in Lamu County barely a week after they ambushed a local police camp, killing three police officers and injuring several others.
The victims, all men, were slaughtered using knives. Police said the militants had ransacked farms at Jima looking for 'non-Muslims' but did not find them since majority had fled following the Wednesday attack in Pandanguo.
Matiang'i, who has been appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta to take over the security docket following sudden death of the late Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery on Saturday, said the curfew will apply in several parts of the counties and surrounding environs which have been gazetted as disturbed and dangerous areas.
The areas are Sangailu, Masalani, Holugho Border Point, Galmagala, Bodehei, Milimani, Baure, Basuba, Mangai and Maralani. Other areas include Garsen, Kipini, Kiunga Ijara, Hola, and Ishakani/ Dar-es-Salaam Border Point.
Matiang'i however said the curfew excludes tourism resort regions of Pate, Islands of Lamu and Manda and Pate.
"Every person who resides within these sub-counties shall except under and in accordance with the terms and conditions of a written permit granted by the respective Deputy County Commissioner of the affected areas, remain indoors in the premises at which they reside or at such other premises as may be authorized," he said. Enditem
