Guard killed as attack on Coast resort foiled

A tractor owned by The Sands at Chale Island Hotel in Kwale County ferries guests from the famed island resort across the channel to the mainland. A guard was shot dead by gunmen as they attempted to access the hotel on Sunday night. [Photo: Gideon Maundu/Standard]

Tragedy struck on Sunday night when gunmen shot dead a guard and injured his colleague in a daring raid at Diani’s The Sands at Chale Island resort in Kwale County.

The motive of the attackers, some clad in police uniform, is not known but reports indicate the tourist resort was 60 per cent booked by Kenyan and mainly Italian tourists.

Security agents have not explained how the gunmen arrived, where they melted to after the raid and have not been quick to attribute the raid to any group.

Kwale County Commissioner Evans Achoki, speaking at his office in Kwale town, confirmed the incident, saying police were looking for the gang.

“I am confirming one person died during the attack and we have deployed additional security forces to the area,” he said.

The Sands at Chale Island resort is on Chale Island, a small romantic island situated 600 metres off the mainland and 10 kilometres south of Diani.

The island is divided into two parts; resort and sacred forest (kaya). The resort sits on 15 acres of indigenous ancient forest.

Access to the island is either by boat during high tide or when the tide is too low, one can wade through very shallow water or be driven on a tractor-pulled trolley.

Monday, The Sands Hotels Managing Director Mario Scianna regretted the loss of life and condoled the family of the deceased who was a private guard employed by Ontrack Security Limited.

“It is sad that thugs who were trying to gain access to the resort after lying to the night guards on duty on the mainland side near the jetty overpowered the guards and when the guards dashed to safety, the shot and killed one of them,” said Mr Scianna who was flanked by Resident Manager Ali Mwapishi.

Scianna reiterated that the attackers were local thugs who had attempted to commit a felony.

“We are satisfied with the police response as they moved swiftly despite the rough road leading to the resort and hope that the attackers will be apprehended to face the full force of the law,” he said.

He said at the time of the incident they were operating at 60 per cent capacity, with both local and international clients patronising the resort for the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Gained access

An eyewitness who did not wish to be identified so as not to compromise his position at work told The Standard that group of four men, some in military camouflage, had initially arrived at the mainland pretending to be police officers on patrol.

“They engaged the two askaris (guards) in discussion and were even given drinking water after they requested to quench their thirst before they asked to be allowed to cross over from the mainland to the island to ‘inspect’ the facility,” the source said.

The source said that by this time, the group’s number had increased to about 10 people.

“They suddenly turned on the two askaris whom they had outnumbered and ordered them to lie down. The askaris tried to dash for cover but one was not lucky enough as he was shot twice on the back and fell near a mangrove swamp.

The gang never made it to the resort and is said to have disappeared after the shooting.

His body was discovered floating during low tide in the morning by workers reporting for the morning shift while his colleague who was identified as Eliab Anabula escaped with slight injuries to his legs after he jumped down a cliff to escape from the gang.

Speaking separately, the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) and Kwale Tourism Executive Adam Sheikh termed the incident as unfortunate and isolated.

“Security is being beefed up in and around holiday resorts in the county. Police are pursuing these goons whose motive of trying to access the island resort is still not known. We sympathise and condole with the family and relatives of the dead man,” Sheikh said.

“We are saddened by the incident at Chale but want to assure that it cannot in any way be used negatively to judge the general state of security currently being enjoyed in the region,” said KAHC Chief Executive officer (Coast) Sam Ikwaye.