The Lamu County security committee has assured H-Young contractor and its workers of adequate security in light of recent attacks by suspected Al Shabaab militants along the Lamu- Witu road.
The recent attacks along the 135 Kilometre road that is presently under construction by the H-Young contractors who are currently at 50 percent completion has come under the spotlight recently after H-Young workers downed their tools over fears of possible attacks by Al Shabaab after a H-Young excavator was destroyed two weeks ago.
However, the Lamu County Commissioner (CC), Irungu Macharia during a closed door security committee meeting with H-Young Contractors Lamu management team assured the contractors that their safety was assured following deployment of KDF personnel to aid in manning construction works along the highway.
“The contractors have returned to work following our assurances that the national government is committed to ensuring the completion of the Lamu-Witu Road that will aid in enhancing the much needed security that is needed in the county,” Macharia said.
He further revealed that the security team has since talked to both the management and the workers with the hope of ensuring normalcy returns in road construction of the highway that is key to realisation of the LAPSSET project initiative.
A spotcheck by KNA on Tuesday along Witu road revealed that the workers have since resumed works.
A section of KDF personnel have been attached to guard construction works as well as equipment hubs in Mokowe and Witu which form the bases for the road contractors who have been working on the first Lamu highway since 2017.
The Lamu County Police Commander (CPC), Moses Muriithi on his part stated that the police escorts will continue as usual and urged PSVs to adhere to escort schedules.
He further noted that more security agents have been deployed along the Lamu-Witu road to aid in ensuring safety along the highway that is still under construction.
Large sections of Lamu-Witu road are yet to be completed, between Witu and Hindi area are still under construction with a completion date expected in 2021.
By Amenya Ochieng
