MANDERA, Kenya – At least five Kenyan security officers were killed and several others injured on Tuesday after a patrol vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) before coming under a coordinated attack by suspected al-Shabaab militants in Mandera County.
The officers, comprising four members of the elite Special Operations Group (SOG) and one National Police Reservist (NPR), were ambushed in the El-Raamo area of Kutulo along the Alungu Main Supply Route (MSR), close to the Kenya-Somalia border.
Police said the attackers had allegedly planted the explosive device on July 21 before lying in wait for a security patrol, leading to one of the deadliest attacks against Kenyan security forces in recent months.
According to security officials, the patrol vehicle was ripped apart by the powerful blast before the militants opened fire, triggering a fierce gun battle with the officers.
The four SOG officers and the National Police Reservist died during the attack, while several officers sustained injuries and were later airlifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment.
A reinforcement team dispatched to rescue the trapped officers also encountered trouble after its armoured vehicle struck another IED, destroying the vehicle and delaying rescue efforts.
Police said the responding officers were immediately engaged by the militants, who later fled the scene following the exchange of gunfire.
Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli later visited the injured officers in hospital in Nairobi.
Authorities confirmed that no additional casualties were reported among the reinforcement team.
Security agencies have since launched investigations into the ambush and deployed additional personnel to secure the area and pursue those responsible.
The latest attack highlights the continued threat posed by al-Shabaab militants operating along Kenya’s porous border with Somalia despite ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
Renewed attacks along the Kenya-Somalia border
The Mandera attack comes amid a series of recent security incidents in northeastern Kenya.
On Sunday, suspected al-Shabaab militants attacked a Safaricom telecommunications mast located within a school compound in Abakaile village in Dadaab, Garissa County.
Police said the attackers partially damaged the mast’s metallic door before fleeing. No injuries were reported among teachers or residents, and authorities confirmed the telecommunications infrastructure remained largely intact.
The incident prompted heightened security operations aimed at protecting critical infrastructure and public institutions in border counties.
Just days earlier, officers stationed at Arabia Police Station in Mandera successfully repelled another suspected al-Shabaab assault after militants launched rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and opened heavy gunfire on the camp.
Police said all officers survived the attack without injuries or fatalities.
Kenya has maintained military and security operations against al-Shabaab since launching Operation Linda Nchi in October 2011 before later integrating its mission into the African Union-led peace support mission in Somalia.
Security agencies say operations against the militant group remain ongoing as efforts continue to strengthen security along the Kenya-Somalia border.