AU, EU Commiserate with Kenya Following Deadly Lamu Attack

The African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) have expressed their condolences and solidarity with Kenya after a tragic attack in a border village that claimed the lives of five individuals.

The attack has raised concerns about the escalating violence, particularly as the death toll in the past month has exceeded 30, including soldiers, police reservists, and civilians.

Over the weekend, the coastal county of Lamu witnessed the horrifying incident, with four victims having their throats slit and one being shot at close range, according to local police reports.

The assailants believed to number around 30, also set fire to houses in the village and looted food supplies.

In response to the devastating attack, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, conveyed his deepest sympathies to Kenya and strongly condemned the “cowardly and heinous” act.

Faki assured Kenya of the AU’s support in the country’s ongoing fight against terrorism.

Similarly, the European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, extended a message of solidarity to the Kenyan government, emphasizing that the EU would stand alongside Kenya in combating terrorism.

The EU has invested heavily in bringing security to Somalia.

They have supported the African Union-led missions for fifteen years, investing over EUR 2.5 billion.

While the AU and EU have expressed their support, concerns have been raised over the silence of the Kenyan government in the aftermath of the attack.

The lack of an official response or statement has left the public anxious and seeking reassurance about the government’s security strategies and plans to address the growing violence.

The attack serves as a grim reminder of the need to bolster security measures and strengthen efforts to counter armed groups in the region.

President William Ruto has already indicated Kenya Defence Forces troops in Somalia may stay there longer beyond the ATMIS drawdown timetable.

Ruto, said while in Paris the frontline states- Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia have decided to stay on the course beyond the set timelines so that they don’t lose the gains made so far.

“We have decided as the frontline states- Uganda, Kenya, Sudan- that we are going to stay on this course and if necessary and we think it is necessary we are going to stay beyond the drawdown timetable so that we don’t lose what we have achieved merely because we have walked away from a situation and allowed al Shabaab back into the equation or into the theatre.”

“ We are very clear and we are going to send a compelling message to al Shabaab that they are not going to reverse the gains we have made in the last couple of years,” he said.

He said the al Shabaab terror group is trying to reposition itself after the start of the withdrawal of African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops to create the impression that they will take over the region