Northeastern prefectures of Kenya have witnessed several months of calmness with little militant’s activity being reported. However, in the past few days, a number of terrorist attacks linked to the Somali-based Al-Shabaab have been reported.
- Al-Shabaab claimed an attack on Kenyan security outpost in Fafi area, near Garissa town NEP Kenya.
- Kenya security assets foiled an Al-Shabaab kidnapping incident outside Dabacity area of Elwak, Mandera and close to the border with Somalia. The Islamist militants had hijacked a civilian Toyota Landcruiser pickup with eight occupants but were intercepted as they drove towards Somalia.
- At least 20 heavily Al-Shabaab militants staged an attack in Korakora in Garissa NEP Kenya. The militants destroyed 3 police houses but they didn’t manage to destroy a Safaricom BTS mast.
- In June, Al-Shabaab conducted at least three low scale attacks in Lafey, Fino and Elram localities of Mandera.
- Also, in June, about 10 Al-Shabaab fighters armed with AK47 rifles burnt 4 shops in Garissa’s Sangole center, located about 10kms East of Ijara BTS mast (MOYIT). After the incident, the militants fled through the nearby thickets.
These attacks come after Force Intelligence Teams (FITs) warned of increased Al-Shabaab movements close to the Kenyan border with Somalia in search of water and other supplies.
NEP counties of Kenya have borne the brunt of surprise attacks from the Shabaab militants, though so far this year, attacks have decreased as compared to the same period, last year.
Local sympathizers are also to blame for these attacks in the region which have always targeted security personnel, government employees (especially non-locals) and critical infrastructures such as telecommunication masts.
This notable surge should be a wake-up call to joint security agencies to step up operations in the volatile region to enhance security.
