Governor Ali Roba's convoy attacked in Mandera Town

What you need to know:

  • Mr Roba was heading to his office in a convoy of four vehicles when an improvised explosive device exploded, damaging one of the cars.
  • The explosion occurred within Mandera Town at 8.50 am.

Mandera Governor Ali Roba escaped unhurt while his bodyguard was injured in an attack in Mandera Town on Wednesday.

Mr Roba was heading to his office in a convoy of four vehicles when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded, damaging one of the vehicles.

"This is another assassination attempt on my life after my office was attacked twice previously," Mr Roba said.

In an interview with the Daily Nation, Mr Roba said he was on his way to the office from his home when the IED exploded.

"We were in a convoy of four vehicles. The first three vehicles, including the one I was in, passed well but the fourth one was hit. It’s only by the grace of God that my car and two other security escorts were not affected," Mr Roba said.

A police vehicle that was damaged after an improvised explosive device blew up in Mandera Town on October 15, 2014. A security officer, who was in the vehicle that was part of Governor Ali Roba's convoy, was injured. PHOTO | COURTESY

The explosion occurred within Mandera Town at 8.50 am.

Mr Roba said the injured security personnel was rushed to Mandera District Hospital, where he was treated and discharged. The vehicle the injured security official was in was partly damaged.

He said the threat on his life has been there, with his office being pelted with grenades twice.

The governor, a pilot by profession who was elected on a URP ticket, could not, however, tell who was behind the threats to his life.

"We cannot definitely make a statement to that effect as police investigations have revealed nothing," Mr Roba said.

Mandera Governor Ali Roba at a summit in Naivasha on January 21, 2014. FILE PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Mandera has been rocked recently by insecurity, including terror attacks and clan conflicts that have left several people dead.

In early August this year, eight armed men hurled grenades at the Mandera County government offices, damaging one side of the building.

County Commissioner Alex Olenkoyo said the perimeter wall was also extensively damaged.