MANDERA, Kenya — Security agencies in Mandera have repelled a nighttime attack by suspected Al-Shabaab militants targeting a residence housing Chinese nationals near Elwak town, securing all occupants after a heavy exchange of gunfire and damage to vehicles and property.
The incident occurred at about 1:00 a.m. at a compound located roughly one kilometre from Elwak Police Station. Police said armed militants attempted to force their way into the residence but were met with resistance from officers guarding the premises.
According to police, the assailants were armed with a mix of crude and sophisticated weapons and arrived in four Toyota Probox vehicles, which accessed Elwak town from Buraache using border cutline routes. The attackers reportedly positioned themselves across the road facing the main gate before launching the assault.
“They positioned themselves on the opposite side of the road facing the main gate of the Chinese residence, but the officers on guard gallantly held their ground and successfully repulsed the attack,” police said in a statement.
During the confrontation, the militants demolished the main gate and damaged the perimeter barrier surrounding the compound. Officers from the Border Patrol Unit (BPU) in Elwak reinforced the guards, and the combined response succeeded in securing all 10 occupants of the residence.
No casualties were reported among the Chinese workers or security personnel. However, significant property damage was recorded. Police said a police vehicle was damaged alongside five Toyota Hilux double-cab vehicles, a grader, and a water bowser belonging to the Chinese contractors, who are engaged in an infrastructure project in the area.
“The situation has since been brought under control and calm has been restored,” police said, adding that the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) has taken over investigations following a report filed at Elwak Police Station.
The attempted raid comes amid heightened security operations along the Kenya–Somalia border, where authorities have stepped up patrols and intelligence-led actions to counter infiltration attempts by Al-Shabaab militants.
Regional security assessments have repeatedly flagged northeastern Kenya as vulnerable to cross-border threats linked to instability in Somalia. According to a recent analysis by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s Centre of Excellence for Preventing Violent Extremism (ICEPCVE), Kenya experienced increased exposure to cross-border spillovers from neighbouring conflict zones between July and September, a risk that has extended into the final quarter of the year.
While the report noted a general decline in the overall number of attacks across the Horn of Africa during the period under review, it warned that targeted and cross-border incidents persisted, underscoring the resilience and adaptability of violent extremist networks.
“The use of drones, crypto-financing, and Houthi-linked weapons marked a new level of sophistication on both sides,” the centre noted, adding that militant activity increasingly reflected asymmetric and technology-enhanced tactics even as counterterrorism pressure intensified.
The assessment further observed that August saw a spike in attacks as militants retaliated against joint Somali and Ugandan People’s Defence Forces operations and international airstrikes. By September, the scale of attacks declined, but targeted and symbolic strikes continued, suggesting tactical adaptation rather than operational weakness.
In Kenya, the report cited sporadic cross-border raids and improvised explosive device incidents in the northeastern and coastal regions, particularly along the Mandera–Garissa–Lamu corridor.
Security officials say the foiled Elwak attack highlights both the continued threat posed by Al-Shabaab and the importance of reinforced border policing and rapid response units in protecting strategic installations and foreign workers operating in frontier counties.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing, with security operations in Mandera County remaining heightened as agencies work to disrupt militant supply routes and prevent further incursions.
