An early morning explosion has left seven police officers wounded in Mandera County, near Kenya’s border with Somalia. The officers’ vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) shortly after 1 a.m. on Tuesday, as they travelled from Bambo to Mandera town.
The attack happened along the remote Gadudia-Laga Road, between Aresa and Khalalia in Mandera East a region long troubled by cross-border raids and militant activity.
Police confirmed that the explosion caused severe damage to the vehicle and injured all seven officers onboard. They were evacuated to a nearby hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries has not yet been made public.
“The officers were on routine patrol when their vehicle ran over an IED,” said a police statement seen by The Nation. “All the injured are stable and receiving medical attention.”
The road where the attack occurred lies near the porous Kenya–Somalia border, where suspected al-Shabaab militants have previously launched ambushes targeting security personnel and civilians.
A multi-agency response team has been deployed to the area in pursuit of the attackers. “Security operations are underway, and we are determined to bring the perpetrators to justice,” said National Police Service spokesman Michael Muchiri on Wednesday morning.
Muchiri acknowledged that the region remains a security headache. “We continue to face these cowardly attacks despite ongoing efforts. But we are not relenting,” he told reporters.
The attack comes amid increased concerns about militant activity in the north. While there has been a relative lull in large-scale attacks over the past year, Tuesday’s incident is a stark reminder of the fragility of peace in the region.
Locals, too, have raised concerns about delayed responses and poor road conditions that hinder both patrols and medical evacuation efforts.
Security analysts warn that the threat remains significant. “As long as border surveillance remains weak and local communities feel marginalised, these kinds of incidents will keep happening,” said security expert Mwenda Mbijiwe.
Authorities have not yet confirmed who was behind the attack, though similar incidents in the past have been linked to al-Shabaab fighters operating from Somalia.
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