Six travelers have been killed, and four others reported missing after unknown gunmen ambushed a 14-seater matatu in Mandera County.
The attack occurred on the outskirts of the Arabia area, Beer-Awayon village in Mandera East, Mandera County, where the passengers were traveling when they were ambushed.
In a statement on May 9, Mohamed Abdikheir, MP for the Lafey constituency, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and called for urgent action in the wake of the incident.
“It is with profound sadness that I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the six innocent travelers on a minibus who were brutally killed by unknown gunmen,” the statement read.
MP Condemns Attack, Urges Swift Probe
MP Mohamed also offered for those injured in the attack, describing the violence as senseless and unacceptable.
“My prayers go out to the injured who are fighting for recovery following this senseless violence. I strongly condemn this barbaric act of cowardice which has robbed innocent lives,” he said.
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The MP urged the government to launch a swift and thorough investigation into the attack and ensure those responsible are brought to justice. He also called for enhanced security measures in the region to prevent similar incidents.
The victims were members of a family traveling from Mandera town to attend an annual Quran recitation gathering when gunmen ambushed their vehicle and opened fire.
Several other passengers sustained injuries in the attack, with local response teams rushing to the scene as authorities launched investigations into the incident.
Mandera Persistent Security Challenges
Mandera County, in Kenya’s far north‑east, near the borders with Somalia and Ethiopia, has been facing serious security problems.
The area is often targeted by the Al‑Shabaab militant group, which takes advantage of the long and poorly guarded border to carry out attacks.
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These attacks have included ambushes, roadside bombs, and raids on security officers, civilians, public transport, and construction projects.
Despite repeated security operations by the Kenyan government, the threat remains. Militants often use improvised explosive devices on major roads, attack patrols, and carry out targeted killings to spread fear and disrupt daily life.
Over the past year and a half, several deadly incidents have been reported in the county.
In January 2026, a roadside bomb attack on National Police Reservists killed two officers and injured two others.
A roadside bomb exploded along the Elwak–Wargadud road in March 2026, injuring at least six police officers.
In April 2025, suspected militants intercepted a minibus near Bur Abor village, forced passengers to surrender their phones and identification documents, and killed five people while injuring two others.
Later that year, in December 2025, security officers foiled an attempted attack on a compound housing Chinese road construction workers in Elwak.
