Five bodies in al Shabaab Mandera ambush airlifted for burial

The vehicle that was ferrying the construction workers before they were ambushed. /HANDOUTFive bodies of victims of terror-related attacks were airlifted from Mandera to Nairobi for preservation and logistical arrangements.

The bodies were transported aboard a Kenya Air Force aircraft, which landed at Mandera Airstrip at 1 pm before departing at 2.15 pm.

The aircraft subsequently landed at the Embakasi KDF Camp in Nairobi at 4.45 pm.

This comes amid investigations into the fatal shooting incident in which eight road construction workers were killed on Tuesday morning.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel also successfully demolished two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) discovered between Damasa KDF Camp and Damasa Dispensary in Lafey Sub-County, Mandera County.

The explosives, which were destroyed on November 11, were reportedly fitted with remote-controlled initiation mechanisms and reinforced with metallic fragments and bolts.

The KDF Bomb Disposal Unit conducted the controlled demolition without any incidents being reported.

The discovery and destruction of the devices come amid continued security operations in Mandera County, which has experienced security threats involving improvised explosive devices.

Officials said the eight people, including two Kenya Police Reservists (KPRs), who were killed after suspected al-Shabaab militants ambushed a vehicle carrying road construction workers along the Mandera-Arabia-Lafey Road in Mandera County, had been identified.

The attackers also escaped with the firearms belonging to the two KPR officers, police said.

The attack occurred at Mlima Hagarso, where the victims were travelling in a Toyota double-cabin pickup belonging to a Nairobi-based construction company.

According to police, a multi-agency security team comprising officers from the Kenya Police Service (KPS), Administration Police Service (APS), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), General Service Unit (GSU), Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) visited the scene following the attack.

Police established that all eight occupants of the vehicle were killed in the ambush by an unknown number of suspected al-Shabaab militants.

The deceased were identified as Mohamed Ibrahim Hussein, a Kenya Police Reservist Sergeant from Koromei; Abdifatah Abdile Ibrahim, a Kenya Police Reservist from Bulla Barwaqo; and Hassan Hussein Kussow, from Lafey, who was driving the vehicle.

The others were John Ng’ang’a Munene, Peter Musili Kiondo, Stephen Kanyi Macharia and Stephen Munene Ng’ang’a, all from Kinangop, and Peter Kahio Kariuki, from Murang’a.

The two missing AK-47 rifles had 60 and 90 rounds of ammunition, respectively.

Security agencies launched efforts to recover the missing rifles and ammunition, with investigations into the attack ongoing.

The bodies were transferred to the Mandera Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, where postmortem examinations were conducted.

The attack underscores persistent security challenges in parts of Mandera County, particularly along roads and infrastructure projects close to the Kenya-Somalia border.

The area is near the Kenya-Somalia border, which is frequently crossed by armed groups.

Somalia has faced decades of conflict and political instability since the collapse of President Siad Barre’s government in 1991. Although successive administrations have rebuilt state institutions and security forces, al-Shabaab continues to control or contest territory and stage attacks.

Kenyan security agencies have continued operations along the border to prevent militant infiltration and reduce attacks targeting security officers and civilians.