A Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) vehicle has been involved in a fatal Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion.
The IED explosion which happened on Tuesday, July 15, at the Badaah area on the Kiunga-Sankuri road in Lamu County left three KDF soldiers dead while seven others are nursing injuries
Lamu East DCC George Kubai, while confirming the incident, explained that the soldiers were en route to Sankuri to transport their colleagues when their vehicle hit an IED on the way back near Kiunga.
Preliminary reports indicate that the injured soldiers are currently continuing to receive treatment at the Kiunga hospital.
Operation launched after IED attack involving KDF vehicle
Meanwhile, a major operation has been launched to identify those responsible for planting the explosive device, with locals claiming that the area is facing a threat of terrorism.
KDF had yet to issue a statement regarding the attack by the time of publication.
Earlier in the week, KDF troops deployed under Operation Amani Boni (OAB), led by the Officer Commanding Major Averestus Achachi, conducted a Key Leader Engagement (KLE) with local elders representing the three main communities of Kiunga: Waboni, Bajuni, and Somali.
The Ministry of Defence, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the meeting marked a significant stride in strengthening collaboration between security stakeholders and local communities.
The engagement provided a vital platform to reaffirm the mandate of OAB troops and the broader mission of the KDF, particularly the shared commitment to restoring and sustaining peace in the greater Kiunga region.
In addition, the productive engagement culminated in a joint resolution to foster mutual trust and cooperation between the KDF and the local population.
“The local leaders emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration across all fronts to secure long-term peace, stability, and development in the region. The engagement underscored a collective determination among community leaders and security agencies to confront the region’s security challenges and pressing development needs through inclusive governance, coordinated efforts, and resource mobilization,” read part of the statement.
“It also highlighted the critical role of continuous partnership in promoting social cohesion and sustainable progress across Kiunga and its environs.”
Police officers injured
The attack which claimed the lives of the soldiers comes barely a week after a patrol vehicle ferrying seven police officers was hit by an IED along the Gadudia-Laga Road in Mandera East, near the Kenya-Somalia border.
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The incident happened early Tuesday, July 8, morning when the officers were travelling from Bambo towards Mandera town.
Reports indicated that the blast occurred at around 1:00 A.M between Aresa and Khalalio, roughly four kilometres west of Mandera Police Station.
The explosion severely damaged the rear of the vehicle registration GKB 885W.
Out of the seven officers on board, one officer escaped unharmed while six sustained various injuries to the hand, leg, chest, forehead and eye.
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All the injured officers were evacuated to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Police said the area remains vulnerable due to its proximity to the porous border, which militants from Somalia have exploited in the past, but has been relatively calm in recent months.
“The officers were on routine patrol when their vehicle ran over an IED,” read a police report. Multi-agency security teams were later deployed to the area to pursue the attackers.
In February this year, a KDF soldier was also killed after an explosion caused by an IED in Elwak, Mandera County.
Four other soldiers were left with serious injuries following the attack which happened near Lafey junction.
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