"The attackers dragged people from their houses and killed them. We have launched investigations to establish the motive of the attack," said coastal police chief Larry Kieng.
"The number of people killed are four," he said, adding that three suspects had been taken into custody.
Kieng denied Shabaab was behind the attack Thursday night, saying it was linked to local conflict between herders and farmers.
But another senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity
... for fear of being murdered...
, said, "The attack has all the hallmarks of an Al-Shabaab
...
Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...attack. They have committed similar attacks in similar fashion before and even torched houses."
Somalia’s al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab snuffies later claimed they had killed "five Kenyan Christians" and destroyed a number of homes in Lamu county, according to the SITE intelligence agency.