GARISSA, Kenya — At least four suspected al-Shabaab militants were killed on Monday in a firefight with Kenyan security forces in the Najo and Guracho areas of Garissa County, close to the porous border with Somalia.
The suspects were ambushed by an elite unit from the Special Operations Group (SOG), following an intelligence-led operation that included aerial surveillance and ground tracking.
Police said the four were planning attacks on security installations and personnel in the region when they were intercepted.
Recovered from the scene were two AK-47 rifles, a PKM machine gun, several rounds of ammunition, and communication equipment, including radios.
The militants were first spotted by a drone, prompting hours of ground pursuit before a fierce exchange of gunfire ended with the suspects fatally wounded, authorities said.
Garissa County, along with other northeastern regions, remains a flashpoint in Kenya’s long-running battle against cross-border terrorism.
The militants often cross into Kenya from Somalia to launch attacks, planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on key routes and targeting both security installations and civilians—particularly nonlocals.
Security agencies have increasingly blamed local collaborators for enabling such attacks, which have repeatedly disrupted essential services in the region, including education and healthcare.
In response, Kenya has escalated security operations, deploying additional personnel, surveillance technology, and intelligence resources to counter the threat.
The country’s anti-terrorism efforts date back over a decade to Operation Linda Nchi, launched in October 2011 after a series of kidnappings threatened Kenya’s tourism-dependent economy.
That military campaign led to Kenya’s incursion into southern Somalia and the eventual capture of the port city of Kismayo under Operation Sledgehammer in 2012.
Since then, Kenyan troops operating under the African Union peacekeeping mission (ATMIS) have helped reclaim swathes of territory once held by al-Shabaab.
However, the threat persists, especially in border areas where militant infiltration and local radicalisation remain ongoing concerns.
Somalia’s prolonged instability—marked by decades of conflict following the 1991 fall of President Siad Barre—has allowed extremist groups to thrive and export violence beyond its borders.
Security officials say Monday’s operation underscores the evolving use of intelligence and technology in combating militant threats, but also highlights the continued danger facing communities in Kenya’s north.
