A Kenya Defence Forces soldier was Monday killed after an explosion caused by
an improvised Explosive Device in Elwak, Mandera County.
Four other soldiers were
left with serious injuries following the attack near Lafey junction, officials
said.
The attack was the second one
in less than 24 hours following Sunday’s where a four-wheel drive car was badly
damaged in the same area.
Officials said a joint patrol
party involving KDF and Special Operations Group encountered a reinforced
ambush leading to the death of one KDF soldier at Qura-Qura 15 kilometers
outside Elwak.
About ten other personnel
sustained slight injuries in the February 24 attack, which is the latest after
a brief lull.
Police said they are pursuing
the gang behind the attack.
It gives an indication the al
Shabaab terror gang which is behind such incidents is back in the area.
The personnel’s vehicle was
badly damaged in the Monday attack, officials said.
On Sunday, another security
car encountered an IED in the same area but no injuries were reported. The area
is near the Kenya-Somalia border, which is usually breached by the al Shabaab
terror group.
Police said they had mounted
operations in the area to tame the terror activities.
It is suspected the terrorists helped to plant the explosives on the routes used by the personnel.
Officials usually urge
locals to cooperate with the government in ensuring their safety and the area
at large.
The attack came barely a week
after, police in Mandera East arrested two suspected al-Shabaab operatives on
February 18.
The suspects had planned the
abduction of a team of foreign nationals working at a sewer line
construction site within Mandera township.
Acting on intelligence, the sleuths
swiftly arrested the prime suspect who had recently sneaked his way into the
country from El-ade in Somalia and forged a number of documents to identify as
a Kenyan.
On keen scrutiny and thorough
interrogation, it was discovered that the suspect was to pay Sh100,000 to his
local associate, who would assist in the abduction exercise before he and
another facilitated the to-be victims' movement to El-ade at a Sh300,000 fee.
Consequently, another operation was conducted,
where another suspect was cornered and arrested in the Metameta area within Mandera
Township by a multi-agency security team.
This comes as Kenya is still
negotiating with terrorists who kidnapped six people including five chiefs in
Elwak, Mandera.
The group is being held in
Jilib, Somalia amid efforts for their release.
The abductors have demanded
ransom for the release of the victims.
