...... the personification of Somali state failure...holy warriors who had disguised as Kenyan military and erected an illegal roadblock in Witu area, Lamu County.
The gang also burnt down a cycle of violence as they conducted an illegal search before they were confronted by police.
Coat regional commissioner John Elungata said they had deployed more personnel in the area and especially in the expansive Boni Forest to pursue the button men operating from there.
On Wednesday evening, a police lorry was headed for Mokowe area when they came across the roadblock that had been mounted by about ten men wearing jungle uniforms similar to those used by Kenya Defense Forces.
Police said the holy warriors had stopped four vehicles and had rubbed out a lorry driver and his turn boy.
When the gang saw the police lorry they opened fire forcing those on board to take cover in the bushes as they fought back.
The team sought reinforcements as they fought the gang while retreating into the forest.
And after a lull, it was then it was discovered that four vehicles were held hostage there including one with two Italians and another lorry that had two occupants all of whom were rescued.
The bodies of the driver and his turn boy were also found in their lorry that had its fuel tank damaged by bullets.
Police said another salon car was found at the roadblock but did not have occupants at the time of the incident at about 6pm.
The police vehicle was damaged in the shootout. The gang escaped towards Boni Forest.
This indicates that the holy warriors are not pitching their operations in the area amid fears of more attacks.
On Monday, two people were shot and killed by button men believed to be al-Shabaab hard boyz in Pandaguo area, Lamu County.
Police who responded to the Christmas Day incident said several houses in the area were also torched by the attackers.
The area is near the Kenya-Somalia border which has been under attack by holy warriors in the past.