Chinese firm suspends construction after Sh42million equipment destroyed in lamu attack
A Chinese firm yesterday withdrew its workers from various projects in the country after eight vehicles worth more than Sh42million, were burnt by suspected Al Shabaab militants on Sunday.
The Sunday attack took place in the Kwa Omolo-Bodhei area on the Lamu-Garissa highway.
The vehicles including trucks and excavators’ belong to the China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC).
At least eight vehicles operating at the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) highway project have been set on fire by suspected Al-shabab terrorists.
Workers at the construction site have been repatriated to the camp amid fear following the attack.
According on the firm, works on the Lamu-Garissa-Ijara road will remain suspended until the government reassures them of their security.
“The construction of the road which is a critical section of the Lappset project has been suspend after the company suffered losses,” the company said.
The fate of the Sh2.5 trillion Lamu port South Sudan-Ethiopia transport lapsset road projects in Lamu hangs in the balance as contractors fear for their safety.
The construction site is manned by the Kenya Defense Forces(KDF) soldiers taking part in the ongoing multiagency Operation Amani Boni, but the security personnel took refuge before militants launched rocket-propelled grenades that destroyed the construction equipment.
The attack comes despite efforts by the government through the Ministry of Interior to deal with the insecurity issue in Lamu County.
The government imposed thirty-days dusk to dawn curfew in parts of the county affected by insecurity.
The affected areas in Lamu West Sub County are Mukunumbi Division, Majembeni location, Ndamwe Location, Mkunumbi Location; Witu Division, Pandanguo Location, Binde Warinde location 2, Witu location, Hamasi Location, Mpeketoni Division; Bomani Location, Pongwe Location, Mpeketoni Location, Bahari Location and Mapenya Location.
In Lamu Central Subcounty, Hindi location in Hindi Division was affected.
“In accordance with Section 106 (1) of the National Police Service Act, 2011, the National Security Council has declared the following parts of Lamu County as Disturbed Areas and ordered a dusk-to-dawn curfew for a period of Thirty (30) days effective Wednesday January 5th, 2022,” read the statement.
