At least six people have sustained injuries after a vehicle they were travelling in struck a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) in Mandera County.
The incident happened at around 6pm on Thursday near Odole Village in Elwak Sub-County along the Mandera-Elwak road.
One of the victims suffered critical injuries, while the others were taken to Elwak Sub-County Referral Hospital for medical attention.
Police Launch Probe
The victims were travelling in a Toyota Land Cruiser when the explosion occurred.
Security officers launched investigations into the incident as they worked to establish the people behind the attack.
Police had not officially confirmed the identity of the attackers at the time of publication, although preliminary reports linked the incident to a possible Al-Shabaab attack.
Border Counties Face Rising Attacks
The incident comes amid increased security concerns in Kenya’s northeastern counties bordering Somalia.
Authorities have reported several attacks in Mandera, Garissa, Wajir and Lamu counties in recent months, with militants using explosive devices and ambushes against security teams and civilians.
Security analysts have linked the rise in attacks to ongoing military operations targeting Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia, which they say may have pushed some fighters toward Kenyan border areas.
Recent Attacks in Mandera and Other Counties
Last month, five security officers died after suspected Al-Shabaab militants attacked an elite Special Operations Group patrol near Wantey Dam in Mandera County.
A team sent to respond to the attack later struck another IED, destroying an armoured vehicle.
In Garissa, militants killed four Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers in an explosive attack before six National Police Reserve officers died in a subsequent ambush.
Lamu County has also experienced similar attacks, with two KDF soldiers losing their lives after their vehicle hit a roadside bomb.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over security along Kenya’s border with Somalia as authorities continue efforts to contain militant activity.
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