Suspected al-Shabaab millitants attacked Camp Simba military base in Manda Bay, Lamu that house US and Kenya soldiers.
Reports indicate the attack was launched in the wee hours of Sunday, January 5 morning and a suicide bomber was involved.
Videos from the attack shared online showed smoke coming from a nearby area of the airstrip where it is alleged an aircraft was torched by the militants.
Al-Shabaab has since claimed responsibility of the attack in a statement hailing its fighters for ‘infiltrating’ the heavily guarded base.
The statement claimed the fighters had “inflicted severe casualties on both Kenyan and American soldiers stationed there.”
But in a statement the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) said the attack happened at around 5:30am Sunday morning when the militants tried to gain entry at Manda Air Strip but were repulsed.
The statement said four bodies of the militants have so far been found. Further, KDF said the thick smoke captured in videos was as a result of fire that broke out at some of the fuel tanks at the airstrip.
“Four terrorists bodies have so far been found. The airstrip is safe. Arising from the unsuccessful breach a fire broke out affecting some of the fuel tanks located at the airstrip.”
It further said the fire has been put under control and standard security procedures were ongoing.
The attack follows a recent attack that was carried on a bus in the same county leaving 3 people dead and several others injured.
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