Mpeketoni town, which bore the brunt of terror attacks in Lamu between 2014 and 2015, has literally risen from the ashes seven years later.
The attacks left over 100 men dead, most of them massacred right inside their homes, as their wives and children watched in horror. The killings were crude and ghastly. Victims had their hands and legs tied behind them, put in a kneeling position and their necks slashed.
Bodies were strewn along village paths and in compounds, leaving a permanent dark reminder of the enemy’s wickedness. A night Lamu residents would want so much to forget.
Lamu has witnessed many other terror attacks since then but not like Mpeketoni.
Property, including buildings and vehicles worth millions of shillings, was torched by the militants in Mpeketoni and neighboring areas.
Over 30 buildings mostly hotels, rental houses and restaurants and over 50 vehicles were torched on the night of June 15,2014.
Consequently, women were rendered widows and children robbed of fathers. They dreaded a return of the terrorists.
Lamu was shaken and along with it the major sectors of tourism, trade, education and health. Investors fled fearing more attacks.
REBUILDING
Seven years down the line, the dust seems to have settled and locals are determined to move on with their lives irrespective of the emotional baggage they carry.
New buildings have sprung up to replace the destroyed ones, signaling the town’s growth and resilience.
Francis Ngengi, the chairperson of the Mpeketoni Business Owners Association, lost two of his hotels during the attack.
He says the attacks stalled the expansion of the town but they have now been able to pull through and rebuild.
“Our intention is for Mpeketoni to rise higher than it was and be at an even better place in terms of trade, business and investment. Piece by piece, we are putting it back together and with the faith we have of a better tomorrow, we know we shall get there eventually,” Ngengi said.
Ngengi said the town’s population has drastically risen in the last six years, a sign that people are confident again about the security of the town and the region.
“People can walk around at night without fear. We couldn’t dare do that the first two years after the attacks. We are happy to be at the point where we feel safe again to grow as a community,” Mpeketoni community leader Margaret Kimani said.
Other affected towns such as Kibaoni, Witu and Hindi have equally witnessed increased development, trade and business.
In Hindi and Kibaoni towns. for instance, the real estate business is picking up pace, especially due to the Sh.2.5 trillion Lapsset project and others such as the Sh10.8 billion Lamu-Garsen road.
Lamu county commissioner Irungu Macharia said the region was enjoying more peace and stability than ever before.
He said sectors such as tourism and trade that had been badly affected by the terror attacks have since made a turn-around and are heading towards total healing.
Edited by E Kibii