Explosion kills passengers, injures a dozen others in Mandera

At least four people have been killed and a dozen others injured after a public service vehicle they were travelling in was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) mid-morning Friday, June 17 along the El Wak – Lafey road in Mandera County.

Confirming the incident, North Eastern Regional Co-ordinator, Ambassador Mahmoud Saleh, said the injured were rushed to Lafey Sub-County Hospital. Those that are in critical condition will be airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment.

Saleh refuted earlier claims that the attack had claimed 13 lives.

The motor vehicle, Land Cruiser model, with 15 passengers on board, was headed to Mandera along the disused B9 Elwak – Lafey road when it was struck.

“This road runs parallel to the Kenya-Somalia border. Because of security reasons, we advice motorists to be using the alternative El Wak – Wargadud – Rhamu Road,” Amb. Saleh advised.

It is at this volatile stretch that Mandera Governor, Ali Roba’s convoy was attacked in the same fashion leading to the death of five police officers attached to his security detail.

The sporadic IED attacks that the Somalia based terror outfit Al Shabaab has been using along the Kenya Somalia border in the recent past, has led to the death of 30 people since the month of May 2017.