Kenya coast raids: ‘Five dead’ in new attack near Mpeketoni

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At least five people have been killed in an attack on the Kenyan coast, close to the scene of raids last week in which more than 60 people died.

Officials said an armed gang descended on the village of Witu, about 15km (9 miles) from the town of Mpeketoni.

Al-Shabab said it was behind the raids on Mpeketoni, near Lamu but President Uhuru Kenyatta has blamed local political groups.

Lamu County Commissioner Stephen Ikua confirmed on there had been a new “unfortunate attack” overnight.

An emergency security meeting has been called to assess the situation, Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper reported Mr Ikua as saying.

The “attackers used machetes and other crude weapons… the victims have cuts and injuries,” local village chief Kaviha Charo Karisa told Reuters news agency.

Al-Shabab said the previous raids were in response to the presence of Kenyan troops in Somalia.