In a harrowing turn of events on July 14, 2017, Mariam El-Maawy, the Principal Secretary for Public Works, found herself at the center of a terrifying encounter with al-Shabaab militants while on a mission to Jima, a region recently shaken by the brutal beheading of nine innocent people by the same extremist group.
El-Maawy, accompanied by her entourage, was en route to a crucial security meeting in Jima, followed by a series of development-related discussions in the area, before her scheduled return to Mombasa. Little did she know that this journey would soon take a perilous turn.
Their fateful encounter occurred on the highway between Mpeketoni and Mokowe, located on the Lamu coast. The group, including the Principal Secretary and her aides, were flagged down by heavily armed al-Shabaab militants, who had earlier captured several vehicles along the same road.
Reports from local residents indicated that approximately 30 militants had seized two other Toyota Prado vehicles but subsequently released them after abducting El-Maawy and her fellow travelers from their vehicle.
Inside the group of assailants, one militant had cleverly disguised himself as a woman and was using a truck driver as a human shield. As the PS’s vehicle slowed down due to the poor road conditions, the driver was forced to halt, and he was subsequently ordered to move to the back seat under duress.
Tragically, the truck driver was later forced out of the vehicle and shot in the back, leaving him injured and traumatized.
Swift action was taken within 45 minutes of the initial attack, as a team of Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) special forces and elite General Service Unit (GSU) police, supported by air power, launched a determined pursuit of the militants. Helicopters could be seen soaring over Mpeketoni as the operation unfolded.
According to Colonel Joseph Owuoth, the KDF spokesperson, “KDF, both ground and air, responded to the incident swiftly.” The joint security team engaged in a hot pursuit that included police and military vehicles, along with helicopters. During the operation, PS El-Maawy was rescued after the vehicle she was in lost control and rolled over while speeding towards the Somalia border.
However, the rescue was not without its challenges. A fierce gunfight erupted between the al-Shabaab kidnappers and the Kenyan security forces at the accident scene. Tragically, four elite military personnel and El-Maawy’s bodyguard lost their lives in the exchange of fire, as reported by a senior police officer to AFP. Nevertheless, despite these sacrifices, the Kenyan security team managed to rescue the PS, while the group of 30 al-Shabaab militants retreated into the Boni forest.
The security forces had been given clear orders to secure the release of the senior government officer at all costs before the al-Shabaab Jaysh Ayman unit could cross into Somalia.
Joseph Awuoth, the Kenya Defense Forces spokesman, confirmed that Mariam El-Maawy had been successfully rescued but did not provide additional details.
Sadly, the lifeless body of Ayub Ole Ndoloni, an Administration Police bodyguard who had been accompanying the Public Works Principal Secretary, was discovered two days after the incident. Ndoloni’s severely burnt remains were found in the vicinity of the attack site in the forest.
Lamu County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri confirmed the discovery of the body and praised Ndoloni’s dedication and bravery. “He died defending his boss, going down while upholding the dignity of our country. I knew him for over three years. He was a diligent soldier.”
Ndoloni was one of the six individuals in the Toyota Prado vehicle belonging to PS El-Maawy, most of whom tragically lost their lives in the incident.
Another victim of the attack was Arif Kassim Athman, a 21-year-old pilot trainee and Mariam El-Maawy’s nephew. Arif was trapped in the vehicle, which later exploded, leaving his body burnt beyond recognition. He was laid to rest at the Mokowe Cemetery in Lamu West.
Disclaimer:
The information in this article is compiled from Jack Zolo and various other sources and may be subject to inaccuracies.
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