Some 14 people have been killed and 11 others injured in an attack by Al-Shabaab gunmen on a village in Mandera County. The area, known as Soko Mbuzi, is inhabited mostly by non-natives, mostly quarry workers.
Mandera County Commissioner Alex Ole Nkoyo confirmed the attack, which he said took place at 1am Tuesday, as victims were sleeping.
The attack, which comes two-and-a -half before US President Obama’s scheduled visit to Kenya, is seen as a show of defiance against the United States, which has been at the forefront of countering terrorism globally. Kenya is a strong ally of the United States in the anti-terrorism drive.
There are fears the death toll in the latest Mandera attack could increase as those rescued had multiple injuries. The incident comes months after almost 70 people, mostly non-locals and non-Muslims, were killed in similar attacks. Mr Nkoyo said the attackers used grenades and guns to attack the victims.
ALSO READ: POLICE ISSUE TERROR ALERT IN NAIROBI
“They broke metal grilled doors before they bombed the houses and opened fire on the innocent victims,” he said. According to witness accounts, the attackers planted grenades at the entrances of the tents and hurled petrol bombs on the tents before opening fire, which triggered the grenades to explode.
Many of those injured were later evacuated and taken to the local hospital. Mr Nkoyo said no arrest had been made and they are investigating the incident. At least 36 quarry workers were killed in December last year.
This was after Al-Shabaab militants raided the quarry and killed the workers in a macabre manner as they slept. Days later, another gang hijacked a bus and killed 28 people among them teachers and doctors in a separate attack that sparked protests and led to boycotts by most civil servants.
NEXT READ: MUMIAS SUGAR YET TO GET KSH1 BILLION BAILOUT
