KDF STRENGTHENS SECURITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN LAMU COUNTY 

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops under Operation Amani Boni (OAB), based at Sankuri area recently conducted Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities and Key Leader Engagement (KLE) in Mararani village, Kiunga ward, Lamu County.

The troops brought together the local elders, staff and pupils of Mararani Primary School and the residents of Mararani village. The discussions highlighted the importance of community leaders in enhancing security and fostering sustainable peace. A key concern raised during the meeting was the urgent need to renovate and expand the school’s dilapidated classrooms, which currently struggle to accommodate the current pupil enrollment. The locals reiterated that addressing the school’s challenge would not only uplift learning standards but also give children in this remote area a fair chance for a brighter future.

The outreach also saw KDF troops extend immediate support to the locals by distributing essential food supplies, including maize flour, rice, beans, sugar, salt, biscuits, and cooking oil, to vulnerable families. For a community that treks more than 40 kilometers to access food in Kiunga or Mkokoni, this intervention was both timely and impactful.

To further secure the village, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialists safely demolished unexploded ordnance (UXO), safeguarding residents especially children from the dangers of mishandled explosives. The combat team also held a Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) awareness session with the Special Operations Group team based at Mararani which provided an opportunity for promotion of best operational practice in dealing with IEDs and sharing of new trends and tactics employed by Al-Shabaab.

The people of Mararani expressing gratitude for multi-agency security efforts to not only enhance security but also stand with the community in its development needs. Such partnerships reaffirm OAB’s mandate under the multi-agency framework of Operation Amani Boni of protecting lives, building trust, and fostering sustainable progress in Boni Forest environs.