MANDERA, Kenya – An unknown number of people were injured when a powerful explosion tore through the Delicacy Food Hotel in Mandera town, causing significant damage to the establishment.
The blast, which occurred at around 1 pm, left multiple casualties, though the exact number remains unclear.
Police and eyewitnesses confirmed the severity of the explosion but have yet to determine the cause of the incident.
The food joint, located near Lafey Junction, is situated in a region that has seen a spike in militant activity in recent weeks.
This explosion comes just weeks after the deadly detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) in Elwak, Mandera County, which claimed the life of a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier.
In that attack, four other soldiers were injured, and a military vehicle was severely damaged.
Officials fear that these incidents signal a resurgence of al-Shabaab activity in the region, which has long been a hotspot for the militant group’s attacks.
The Elwak ambush, which took place about 15 kilometers from the town in Qura-Qura, targeted a joint KDF and Special Operations Group patrol. At least ten personnel were also injured in that attack.
The growing frequency of these attacks has raised alarms among local authorities, who are concerned that al-Shabaab may be re-establishing its presence in the area after a period of relative calm.
The recent explosions are part of a broader pattern of al-Shabaab militants using ambush tactics and IEDs to target security forces in the region.
These developments come amid heightened security operations aimed at dismantling the group’s network along the volatile Kenya-Somalia border.
In response, Kenyan security forces have increased operations in the area to track down the perpetrators of the attacks and prevent further incidents.
Authorities have vowed to intensify their efforts to safeguard the region, which has seen a troubling resurgence of violence in recent weeks.
