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Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has announced the re-opening of Lamu civilian airstrip in Lamu County several hours after it was closed.

An attack at Manda Bay Airstrip in Lamu controlled by Kenya Defence Forces(KDF) and the US military led to the closure of the Lamu civilian airstrip.

“Kenya Civil Aviation Authority wishes to notify aviation stakeholders and members of the public that after the early morning incident in Lamu County… the closure has been lifted,” said Gilbert Kibe, KCAA Director-General.

The early morning attack on January 5, 2022, at Manda Air Strip left four of the attackers dead, according to the KDF.

This morning at around 5:30 am an attempt was made to breach security at Manda Air Strip. The attempted breach was successfully repulsed. Four terrorists bodies have so far been found. The airstrip is safe.https://t.co/CXoAWBgXC4

— Kenya Defence Forces (@kdfinfo) January 5, 2020

The attack was conducted by Somalia based al-Shabaab militants.

According to the US Africa Command, KDF and American troops repulsed the militants and secured the airstrip.

Consequently, William Gayler, US Africa Command director of operations countered allegations by the militants that several soldiers from KDF and the US were injured.