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The attackers arrived on board a motorcycle and opened fire at the multi-agency team that was manning the roadblock leading to Ethiopian border.
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Police and witnesses said the attackers also lobbed two grenades at the team but they did not detonate.
One police officer was killed and three other people including a civilian injured in a gun and grenade attack at a roadblock in Moyale, Marsabit County.
Police said the incident happened Thursday evening at Sessi area which is few kilometers away from the porous Kenya-Ethiopia border.
The attackers arrived on board a motorcycle and opened fire at the multi-agency team that was manning the roadblock leading to Ethiopian border.
Police and witnesses said the attackers also lobbed two grenades at the team but they did not detonate.
The motive of the attack is yet to be known, police said.
Police suspect the attackers could be smugglers or terrorists who are trying to find a footing in the area.
The Moyale-Marsabit Highway is one of the main routes used by human and drug smugglers.
The route, according to police is also a haven for terrorists trying to reach Isiolo and Nairobi.
The roadblocks mounted on the route have helped tame many crimes including terrorism.
Constable Collins Mutai succumbed to the injuries while receiving treatment at Moyale Subcounty Hospital following the attack.
Marsabit County police commander Leonard Kimaiyo said two police officers were seriously injured in the attack.
He added a civilian woman believed to be a revenue clerk with the county government, was also critically wounded in the attack, which was carried out by suspects armed with grenades and assault rifles
The injured were rushed to Moyale Sub-County Hospital, where one officer succumbed to severe upper limb injuries while undergoing treatment.
Kimaiyo added that two undetonated grenades were recovered at the scene and later detonated by personnel from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) who also responded to the incident.
He urged the residents of Moyale town to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could aid in the arrest of the culprits.
“We are making efforts to establish the motive but we suspect this could be linked to among others smuggling,” he said.
Arrangements were being made to airlift the injured officers, who suffered multiple injuries, to Nairobi for specialised treatment.
The attackers, who fired indiscriminately at the multi-agency team manning the border point, left the victims with critical wounds.
The area is among those being taken seriously in terms of security operations.
The government has launched the revised Kenya Coordinated Border Management Program (KCBMP), which will further strengthen national security.
Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo said Kenya's strategic location in East Africa has long underscored the importance of effective border management in enhancing trade, ensuring national security, and promoting regional integration.
Omollo said Kenya has modernized border operations, embraced technology, and fostered collaboration among various border agencies.
For instance, he said, in 2014, recognising the need for a more efficient and integrated system, Kenya established the Border Control and Operations Coordination Committee (BCOCC), which brings together various government agencies to enhance communication and streamline operations across land, air, and maritime borders.
“We have also implemented the Integrated Customs Management System (ICMS) and other technological tools to expedite the clearance of legitimate goods while effectively detecting contraband,” Omollo said.
He said Kenya is actively developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and efficiency in border operations across all points of entry.
Omollo said the achievements have laid the foundation for the concept of Coordinated Border Management, emphasising collaboration, information sharing, and a focus on both security and trade facilitation.
“This holistic approach allows us to enhance security by working together as different agencies to identify and address threats such as smuggling and terrorism, boost trade through faster clearance times and streamlined procedures, and improve revenue collection by enhancing the detection of duty-evaded goods,” he said.
The updated programme encompasses critical dimensions of border management, including governance structures for cooperation and emerging trends and technologies.