Six people were killed in a deadly ambush after heavily armed gunmen attacked a passenger vehicle in Mandera County, underscoring the persistent insecurity haunting Kenya’s northeastern region.
The attack occurred on Saturday morning near Beer-Awayon village in Mandera East when gunmen intercepted a 14-seater matatu travelling from Mandera town to Arabia town before opening fire indiscriminately on passengers.
Several other travellers were injured in the assault and rushed to nearby medical facilities as security agencies launched a manhunt for the attackers.
Witnesses described scenes of terror and confusion as bullets ripped through the vehicle, forcing passengers to scramble for safety in the remote border area.
Local leaders condemned the killings, describing the attack as barbaric and inhumane. Lafey MP Mohamed Abdikheir expressed condolences to the bereaved families and urged security agencies to move swiftly in tracking down those responsible.
The latest massacre has renewed fears over the fragile security situation along the Kenya–Somalia border, where suspected Al-Shabaab militants have repeatedly targeted civilians, public service vehicles and security personnel.
Mandera County has for years remained vulnerable to cross-border attacks due to its proximity to Somalia and the porous nature of the frontier. Security experts warn that militants often exploit remote routes and sparse settlements to stage ambushes before fleeing across the border.
Following the incident, security officers intensified patrols along the Mandera–Arabia route amid fears of further attacks.
Authorities are yet to officially identify the group behind the ambush, although suspicion has fallen on Al-Shabaab militants who have carried out similar attacks in the region in the past.
The killings once again highlight the growing challenge facing security agencies in securing Kenya’s volatile northeastern corridor as residents continue to live under the shadow of militant violence.
