Parts of Lamu and Garissa counties remain high risk areas as combined security teams comb Boni Forest to flush out Al-Shabaab.

Security officers say Operation Linda Boni, a military campaign to flush out Jaysh Ayman, a militant wing of the Al-Shabaab responsible for the Garissa University and the Mpeketoni attacks, is well on course. 

However, the threat from the militants is still real, say security operatives. Even though support from local people has helped to minimize the threat, 

ultimately the military campaign has had to be strengthened, said James ole Serian, the Director of Operation Linda Boni. "Nine police stations have been 

built and three more will be added in different parts of this area,” said ole Serian. The operation covers parts of the Boni forest in two counties — Lamu and Garissa.

"This is the area militants use to launch the attacks in Lamu and northern parts of the country,” said Serian. The operation covers what has been 

classified as the Boni enclave which encompasses Holugho Border Point, Galmagala, Sangilu, Ijara, Bodhei, Milimani, Baurre, Basuba, Mangai and 

Malalani. In 2014 and 2015 Lamu and Garissa were the theatre of bloody terror attacks by Jaysh Ayman militants, and a raid on Kenya Defence Forces 

camp at Baure on June 14. Two soldiers were killed in the Baure attack after a battle that left 11 militants dead, among them militia leader Luqman 

Osman Issa, a native of Mombasa’s Bondeni area. Others killed were British jihadist Thomas Evans Anthony alias Abdul Hakim and Said Abdalla Hemed 

alias Abu Hamza. Police identified the dead militants as members of Jaysh Ayman. Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa and Regional Police 

Commander Francis Wanjohi say the danger from Boni Forest is still present, but say the establishment of nine police stations would beef up security, 

even though reports have indicated these precincts are ill-equipped and poorly manned. "More forces have been deployed in the area,” Wanjohi 

affirmed.