Incident scene
Two police officers were killed after a Land Cruiser attached to Hagadera police station ran over an improvised explosive device (IED) along the Saretho–Dadaab Main Supply Route.
The incident occurred at around 6am on Friday, October 9, police said.
According to an initial assessment, the vehicle was travelling along the route when it struck the suspected explosive device, killing the senior officer and the driver.
Their vehicle was badly damaged. Witnesses said a team responded to the scene but they did not find those behind the incident.
The attackers who are believed to be al Shabaab gang members or their local remnants are believed to have set up the IED overnight. It is not clear if they had prior information the police would pass there.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, a team that responded to the scene said.
Security operations in the area were intensified as investigations continue into those behind the attack.
This is the latest such incident to happen in the area amid police operations to address the menace. Dozens of government officials have been killed in similar attacks. Others have been left with serious injuries.
On July 28, six Kenyan security officers, including five members of the elite Special Operations Group (SOG) and a National Police Reservist (NPR), were killed after their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) in Mandera county before coming under attack from suspected al Shabaab militants.
The incident occurred in the El-Raamo area of Kutulo, along the Alungu Main Supply Route (MSR), near the Kenya-Somalia border, police said.
According to security sources, the IED had allegedly been planted on July 21, with the militants lying in wait for a security patrol before launching the coordinated ambush.
The explosion was followed by a fierce exchange of gunfire between the Special Operations Group officers and the attackers.
Five SOG officers and one National Police Reservist were killed during the attack.
The attack underscores the persistent threat posed by al Shabaab militants operating along Kenya’s porous border with Somalia despite sustained counterterrorism operations by Kenyan security forces.
The area is near the Kenya-Somalia border which is usually breached by al Shabaab terrorists for attacks.
Kenya has mounted operations to address the menace which has curtailed development in the area at large.
This has led to deployment of more personnel and technology in the region to address the menace.
The terrorists usually set up explosives on the roads and leave dozens of Kenyans dead and property destroyed. Officials say this has led to the reduction of such incidents in general.
Somalia has not had a stable government for decades which has created room for the terror group to operate and cross into Kenya for attacks.
