At least three Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers were killed on Tuesday, July 15, while seven others are nursing injuries following an explosion on their vehicle on the Kiunga-Sankuri road in Lamu County.
This happened after an Improvised Explosive Device went off at Badaah area, police and witnesses said.
According to Lamu East Deputy County Commissioner George Kubai, the soldiers were returning from Sankuri, where they had been transporting colleagues, when their vehicle hit the hidden device.
The injured soldiers were evacuated for treatment at the Kiunga hospital, while a major operation was launched to get those responsible for planting the explosive device, with locals claiming that the area is facing a threat of terrorism.
The KDF, in collaboration with local police, has launched a major operation to locate those responsible for planting the bomb. Security officials are intensifying patrols and checkpoints along the Kiunga–Sankuri route.
A statement by the Kenya Defence Forces Strategic Communications stated that early on Tuesday afternoon, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops on patrol along the Sankuri–Kiunga Main Supply Route (MSR) encountered an improvised explosive device (IED).
"Immediately after the incident, multi-agency security teams launched operations in pursuit of perpetrators of the heinous act and have heightened the manning of routes in and out of the area to deny the enemy freedom of movement," the statement reads.
KDF further confirmed that the wounded personnel were evacuated to specialised military medical facilities in the region and are responding well to treatment as they condoled with the families of the fallen soldiers.
"Regrettably, three gallant soldiers succumbed to their injuries. These soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the citizens of Kenya. The entire KDF fraternity condoles with their families," the statement reads.
"Kenya Defence Forces recognises the courage demonstrated by the personnel and appreciates the swift response by multi-agency teams operating in the area."
KDF said together with the entire multi-agency Operation Amani Boni fraternity, they remain unbowed and have the resolve to ensure that sustainable peace is attained in the area of responsibility.
At the weekend, the Commander of the Kenya Army, Lt Gen David Ketter, visited the area.
Lt Gen Ketter made a visit to Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops deployed under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and also Operation Amani Boni (OAB) in Lamu County.
The visits were intended to reinforce and maintain troop morale as well as assess ongoing operations.
Lamu is under Operation Amani Boni, aimed at driving out al Shabaab gangs operating in the area. Lamu has for years been the scene of terrorist attacks targeting both locals and security officers.
The most devastating strike happened in Mpeketoni and Kibaoni on the night of June 15, 2014, when more than 90 people were killed.
The area is under special operation code-named Operation Linda Boni to flush out the terrorists there.
The blast in Lamu comes after two people were killed on Monday morning in a suspected Al-Shabaab attack after their vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device (IED) along the Ijara–Bodhai road in Garissa County.
The victims, identified as Mohamed Shabel Bashir and Abdikadir Muhumed Salat, were traveling in a Probox car heading to Bodhai town when the deadly blast occurred.
Bodhai Deputy County Commissioner Dubat Mohamed confirmed the incident, saying the IED is believed to have been planted by militants targeting security patrols that frequently use the route.
“This is a sad and unfortunate incident. We suspect the attackers were targeting our security personnel who regularly conduct surveillance operations along that road,” Mohamed said.
Images from the site showed the extent of the destruction, pointing to the high intensity of the explosive used.
Mohamed said security along the road has been heightened, with a joint operation involving the General Service Unit (GSU) and Special Operations Group (SOG) deployed to pursue the attackers.
“We are in hot pursuit of these criminal elements. Our forces are combing suspected hideouts,” he added, urging residents to cooperate with authorities and share any useful information.
Ijara MP Abdi Ali condemned the attack, calling it a tragic setback in efforts to restore peace in the region.
