Mandera driver saves passengers from suspected Al-Shabaab

A matatu driver in Mandera South has become the talk of town after he saved the lives of eight people from an attempted terror attack.

The driver, not named for security reasons, sped off after about 10 suspicious people waved him to stop on Wednesday evening on the Elwak-Borehole 11 road.

When he did not stop, the suspected Al-shabaab militants sprayed bullets on the matatu deflating a tyre.

No one was injured during the incident, Mandera County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha said.

“A vehicle ferrying construction workers from Borehole 11 was last evening targeted by suspected Al-Shabaab militants but their driver saved them,” said Mr Kyatha.

The official termed the driver's action as 'brave'.

Mr Kyatha said the vehicle had been hired by a construction firm putting up a health centre in Borehole 11 township to ferry the workers to their residence in Elwak town.

“The driver is a local but most of the passengers were non-locals whom we believe were the target. The attackers shot at the vehicle but no one was injured,” he said.

Mr Kyatha said police are investigating the incident.