MANDERA — At least six people were killed and 10 others injured on Saturday after suspected Al-Shabaab militants ambushed a passenger vehicle in northeastern Mandera County near the border with Somalia, police said.
The attack occurred around midday in Beer-Awayon village, about 8 kilometers from Mandera town, when heavily armed gunmen intercepted a 14-seater public service vehicle and opened fire indiscriminately on passengers, witnesses and officials said. The intensity of the attack caused multiple fatalities at the scene, with several others sustaining serious gunshot wounds.
Security agencies said emergency responders, including police and medical teams, were quickly dispatched to the area, where the injured were evacuated to nearby health facilities in Mandera town. Some of the wounded are reported to be in critical condition.
Mandera County Police Commander Robinson Ndiwa confirmed that a multi-agency security operation has been launched to track down the assailants, who are believed to have escaped toward the porous Somalia border shortly after the attack.
“The attackers targeted a civilian vehicle traveling from Mandera town to Arabia. We have deployed additional forces to pursue them and secure the area,” Ndiwa said.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the victims were members of the same extended family traveling together to attend a religious ceremony, making the attack particularly devastating for the local community.
Although no group has formally claimed responsibility, Kenyan security officials strongly suspect Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group based in Somalia that has repeatedly carried out cross-border raids and attacks in Kenya’s northeastern region.
The Mandera area, which lies along the Kenya-Somalia frontier, has for years experienced recurring security incidents, including roadside bombings, ambushes and targeted killings. Authorities say the area remains vulnerable due to its vast, remote terrain and limited infrastructure, which militants exploit to move across borders.
Residents have expressed growing concern over their safety, calling on the government to enhance security presence and improve intelligence operations to prevent further attacks.
The latest incident underscores ongoing security challenges facing Kenya despite intensified counterterrorism efforts, particularly in border regions prone to militant infiltration.
