KDF, police on alert after fresh attacks in Garissa County

A picture of a Kenya Defence Forces tanker. Security has been intensified in Garissa County after two recent separate attacks that left a policeman dead and 17 others injured. FILE PHOTO |

What you need to know:

  • Two terrorists were also shot dead in one of the attacks that lasted for hours in Hamey patrol base in Dadaab, Garissa County.
  • Dadaab OCPD Raphael Kimilu said the officers fired back and killed two of them.

Security has been beefed up in Garissa County after two separate attacks that left a police officer dead and 17 others injured.

Out of the 17 who were injured, 14 are police officers while the other three are the Kenya Defence Forces soldiers.

Two terrorists were also shot dead in one of the attacks that lasted for hours in Hamey patrol base in Dadaab, Garissa County.

KDF spokesman Colonel David Obonyo on Friday said the three soldiers were injured when suspected Al-Shabaab militants detonated a remote controlled mine in Ijaara Sub County.

“The situation on the ground has been contained. Security operations in the area are ongoing. The officers were airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment and they are in a stable condition,” he said.

The suspects ambushed the soldiers as they moved from the Garissa barracks to Hulugho base in Ijaara. The attackers are said to have been aware of the soldiers’ movement and when they reached Korahindi, the mine was detonated.

After the detonation, about 50 armed men emerged from bushes on either sides of the roads and shot at the soldiers. As a result, one vehicle was extensively damaged.

DAADAB ATTACK

In another attack on Tuesday at 11pm in Hamey, around 15 med armed with rifles and six grenades attacked the Hamey patrol base .

Dadaab OCPD Raphael Kimilu said the officers fired back and killed two of them.

“The gunmen were dressed in Jungle Green Transitional Federal Government of Somalia’s uniform” Mr Kimilu said. An officer who was in a tent near the gate where the attack was launched was shot and killed by the gunmen. Police recovered two magazines of AK47 loaded with several rounds of ammunition," he said.

The bodies of the gunmen are yet to be identified and are at the Garissa General Hospital mortuary.

Security agencies have been mobilised to pursue the attackers, who are suspected to have fled to the neighbouring Somalia.