Police saved 136 lives in Mandera attack, says Joseph Nkaissery

What you need to know:

  • Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery on Tuesday said the armed attackers sneaked in from Somalia and raided Soko Mbuzi Village in Mandera Town at around 1.30am.

  • The attackers, he said, blew up the gate using a home-made bomb and started shooting indiscriminately after gaining access into the village.

  • Mandera lawmakers have questioned the government’s commitment in protecting workers based in the county.

  • The leaders said it was clear that the government had not done enough to secure the place despite previous deadly attacks.

  • At the same time, the central Kenya Parliamentary caucus condemned the senseless killings of quarry workers in Mandera.

  • Led by Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi, the lawmakers appealed to the President to ruthlessly deal with the frequent attacks.

Security agents did not have intelligence about the terrorist attack that claimed 14 lives and left 11 people injured in Mandera on Tuesday morning.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery on Tuesday said the armed attackers sneaked in from Somalia and raided Soko Mbuzi Village in Mandera Town at around 1.30am.

The attackers, he said, blew up the gate using a home-made bomb and started shooting indiscriminately after gaining access into the village.

“The intention of the heinous murderers was to place the quarters under siege with the aim of executing the 150 residents of the estate. However, 136 residents who were facing imminent danger of slaughter by the terrorists were safely evacuated,” he told journalists in Nairobi.

ENGAGED ATTACKERS

Maj-Gen (rtd) Nkaissery said police officers on patrol engaged the attackers, who fled to Somali.

“The swift response by the police repelled the attackers who fled back to Somalia. Unfortunately, 11 Kenyans were killed during the attack while three others succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment,” he said. 

Mandera County Commissioner Alex Ole Nkoyo said the attackers struck as the villagers slept.

The injured were brought to Nairobi by a Bluebird Aviation aircraft while a police helicopter brought the bodies.

The Kenya Defence Forces and police on Tuesday launched a joint operation, led by the North Eastern Regional Coordinator Mohamud Ali Saleh, to hunt down the killers.

RALLYING CALL

The Cabinet secretary said the government would not be cowed by the attacks that were aimed at disrupting the lives of Kenyans.

He also urged residents of Mandera to report to security agencies anyone they might come across who has bullet wounds. 

“It is also the duty of every citizen to remain vigilant and share information that will help us secure our motherland,” he said. 

In December last year, Al-Shabaab militants killed 36 non-Muslim quarry workers in Mandera.

As in the latest attack, the terrorists struck as the workers slept in tents in Koromey, about 15 kilometres from Mandera Town.

Mr Nkaissery's statement came as Mandera lawmakers questioned the government’s commitment in protecting workers based in the county.

KILLERS FREE

The leaders said it was clear that the government had not done enough to secure the place despite previous deadly attacks.

They addressed the Press at Parliament’s media centre, where they condemned the attack, saying it was the latest attempt by terrorists to divide Kenyans along religious lines.

“It is glaring insecurity because of failure to secure people who are targets. We have suggested various ways to stop the attacks but we have not been listened to. The only thing the government has done is to post a county commissioner,” said Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow.

The leaders asked the government to consider posting police officers of Somali origin to the county, and employing locals as police reservists.

“We sincerely regret the loss of innocent lives. They did not deserve to die. It is unfortunate the culprits have not been brought to book. Many a times Kenyans have been killed in the county and the culprits not arrested,” said Lafey MP Shabaan Ali.

GOVERNMENT'S 'ASLEEP'

Mandera Women Representative Fathia Mahbub said the latest attacks in the county and other neighbouring counties pointed were due to laxity and sabotage by those tasked with providing security.

“We have had several attacks in Mandera. There was the quarry and the bus terror attacks but nothing has been done to stop further attacks that is why there was an attack last night (Monday) ” said Ms Mahbub.

Tarbaj MP Mohammed Elmi said the government was not serious about security in the region, saying the attacks exposed a “sleeping government.”

“This government is fast asleep. It is in slumber land. They are doing nothing to protect Kenyans,” he said.

At the same time, the central Kenya Parliamentary caucus condemned the senseless killings of quarry workers in Mandera.

EVACUATION CALL

Led by Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi, the lawmakers appealed to the President to ruthlessly deal with the frequent attacks.

The lawmakers addressed the Press at the Parliament’s media centre and observed that the attacks were targeting people from outside the region.

"We condemn this selective killing of Kenyans by suspected Al-Shabaab militia. Our analysis has revealed that the people dying are from upcountry," said Mr Murungi.

Kieni MP Kanini Kega said the government should evacuate non-locals in northern Kenya, adding that most of those killed are from Nyeri County.

"Enough is enough. The government should evacuate those in risky areas. It’s not safe. It’s not worth risking lives," he said.