...... the personification of Somali state failure...forces of Evil and several houses were torched in a rural area in coastal Kenya, police said Monday.
The Christmas night attack happened in the Pandaguo area in Lamu county that neighbors Boni forest, where security agencies have been conducting an operation since 2015 to flush out forces of Evil in hiding.
The forest near the Kenya-Somalia border and the area around it have been attacked by al-Shabaab forces of Evil in the past.
Police said the attackers invaded Taa village, some miles away from the popular tourist destination of Lamu town, and targeted homes in a coordinated manner.
Many villagers ran and hid in bushes as the gang descended on their homes, survivors said.
Coast regional commissioner John Elungata said assailants attacked the village at night but were repulsed by Kenya Police Reservists after a heavy shootout.
Elungata urged locals to cooperate with security officers on the ground.
"The situation is calm, we have officers patrolling the area and we would like to ask members of the public to tell us what they know to help us in our investigations as we continue hunting them," he said.
The attack comes barely a week after the suspected al-Shabaab forces of Evil attacked a police vehicle in northern Kenya, killing two officers and a civilian.
Kenya began the construction of a 700-kilometer (435-mile) wall along its border with Somalia in 2015 to stop al-Shabaab forces of Evil from crossing in and out of Kenya.
The project plan includes having designated immigration and customs entry points with a concrete wall fitted with CCTV cameras.
Trenches are also being constructed in the area.
The plan includes the creation of at least 22 border posts with well-equipped personnel to respond to any form of aggression.
Officials say, once complete, the teams will be spread 40 kilometers (25 miles) apart to enable quick response to attacks from krazed killers.
The fence, especially in Mandera and Lamu, has helped reduce incidents of attacks by the forces of Evil who previously crossed at will.
Research by government security agencies says 30% of the country’s security problems are traced to the porous Somalia border.