Nairobi, Kenya- In the early hours of Tuesday, April 29, five quarry workers were ambushed and killed by suspected al-Shabaab militants on their way to work in Bur Abor Village, Mandera East.
They were traveling, as usual, in a matatu without police escort—a routine that has sadly become a security gamble in this volatile region.
Police later confirmed the identities of the deceased: Mbaabu Karuma, Stephen Mambo, Evas Simiyu, Bernard Masika, and George Kilobi. All were non-locals trying to make an honest living by excavating stone for construction.
The attackers, believed to be part of the Somalia-based al-Shabaab network, blocked the workers’ path using stones before launching the fatal assault.
Witnesses say the militants were armed with rifles, forced the workers to lie down, and then shot them at close range. Blood stains at the scene remained a haunting reminder until authorities collected the bodies.
A Scene of Chaos, Then Silence
When police arrived at the site, 39 spent cartridges of 7.62mm special rounds and two live bullets were recovered.
Two survivors, Joseph Nduati and Peter Maina, sustained injuries. Nduati suffered a gunshot wound to the left arm and soft tissue injuries, while Maina reported general body pain.
Thirteen other workers, who fled into the surrounding bushland during the attack, were later accounted for—physically safe but visibly shaken. The attack has sent a wave of fear rippling through Bur Abor and beyond, reigniting anxieties over persistent threats from al-Shabaab in Kenya’s northeastern region.
Questions of Responsibility and Security Oversight
What stings even more is the avoidable nature of the incident. Police confirmed that the matatu driver and his turnboy, who failed to carry the expected security personnel, were detained for questioning. Their decision to travel without protection is now part of the ongoing investigation.
Workers in Mandera, especially non-locals, typically avoid spending nights at the quarry, opting instead to stay in town where it’s presumed safer. Yet, the Tuesday morning attack shows how even the short commute is laced with danger.
Security teams responded swiftly, but by then, the militants had vanished into the rugged terrain. Authorities have since dispatched reinforcements to track down the attackers, vowing to prevent a repeat of such tragedies.
A Terror Alliance on the Horizon?
Beyond the immediate horror, this attack may signal deeper, more global concerns. Security experts have raised alarms about a possible alliance between al-Shabaab and Yemen’s Ansar Allah rebels, also known as the Houthis. While al-Shabaab has cash but lacks heavy weaponry, the Houthis have arms and need funds.
That kind of marriage could destabilize not just Mandera but swathes of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region, where global shipping routes and security are increasingly under strain.
Grief, Fear, and a Demand for Answers
Back in Mandera, the killings have left families in mourning and communities on edge.
The bodies of the deceased were flown to Nairobi for preservation and identification before the news was broken to their loved ones.
As investigations continue, the need for increased security and better coordination between local authorities and national forces couldn’t be clearer. For now, a familiar sense of fear has returned to Mandera—a place where safety still feels like a distant luxury.
