Kenya hit eight times since July
Friday, October 07, 2016
By FRED MUKINDA
Kenya Red Cross personnel and police collect bodies of six people killed by Al-Shabaab in Mandera town on October 6, 2016. Even in cases where quick response units moved in quickly, they fled to their havens, leaving a trail of destruction. PHOTO | MANASE OTSIALO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Al-Shabaab terrorists have staged at least eight attacks on Kenyan soil in the past three months, denting a blow to border control efforts put in place by security agencies.
Kenya Red Cross personnel and police collect bodies of six people killed by Al-Shabaab in Mandera town on October 6, 2016. Even in cases where quick response units moved in quickly, they fled to their havens, leaving a trail of destruction. PHOTO | MANASE OTSIALO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Al-Shabaab terrorists have staged at least eight attacks on Kenyan soil in the past three months, denting a blow to border control efforts put in place by security agencies.
Mandera County bore the brunt of the invasions,
which also occurred in Lamu, Garissa and Mombasa over the period.
The government reacted by sending additional
officers, including the paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU), to the areas
affected but the counter-measures have not prevented further loss of life.
The Nation established that intelligence warning
of an impending attack days before six people were killed at Bulla public works
Thursday did not specify the terrorists’ target.
The only information available was that an
attack was imminent in the vast Mandera.
The Kenya-Somalia border
has remained porous despite the many attacks over the years.
Government Spokesman Eric Kiraithe said: “It was
(yesterday’s incident) very unfortunate.
“Reinforcements have been sent. The government
is definitely doing something, details which we cannot understand.”
Even the use of unmanned aerial vehicles,
popularly known as drones, has not prevented terrorists from sneaking into
Kenya in droves to commit atrocities.
Terrorists have on many occasions crossed back
to Somalia after committing atrocities without incurring casualties.
Even in cases where quick response units moved
in quickly, they fled to their havens, leaving a trail of destruction.
Other times they planted IEDs on roads,
especially in Lamu.
On September 22, official police reports showed
over 50 armed men riding on pick-up trucks from Somalia raided Hamey Police
Station.
SPREAD OUT ATTACKS
They were repulsed after a fierce gunfight but
went back for reinforcement, only to return riding on lorries.
One terrorist was killed in the second battle
and two officers also died, and their bodies were days later displayed in
Somalia.
Some 4,484 rounds of ammunition, an MG3 machine
gun, two G3 rifles and a VHF radio set belonging to the police camp were also
taken away to Somalia.
At times when the Al-Shabaab has not staged
attacks, they planted improvised explosives on roads, especially in Lamu
County.
The Improvised Explosive Devices went off after
vehicles ran over them, causing either death or injuries to travellers.
In most of such explosions, police and military
vehicles were specifically targeted.
Security camps in Boni forest, which a faction
of Al-Shabaab has established bases, have also been attacked in the past.
For instance, a GSU camp
in Basuba was attacked on August 6, and an Administration police camp in Mangai
on July 14.
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