Garissa County, Kenya – August 6, 2025
Eight police officers from Kenya’s Border Patrol Unit were seriously injured on Monday evening in a roadside explosion along the Banabs–Yumbis Road in Garissa County. The officers were traveling in a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle when it struck an improvised explosive device (IED), suspected to have been planted by al-Shabaab militants.
According to official reports, the officers were part of a patrol team navigating the volatile region near the Kenya–Somalia border when the ambush occurred. The MRAP was destroyed in the blast and caught fire, but all eight officers were rescued from the wreckage and rushed to a local health facility before being airlifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment.
The attackers, believed to be members of the Somalia-based terror group al-Shabaab, fled the scene. A multi-agency security operation is underway to track the perpetrators and restore calm in the area.
This latest incident is part of a worrying trend of cross-border attacks targeting Kenyan security personnel. Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties remain high-risk zones due to their proximity to Somalia, where al-Shabaab maintains a significant presence.
In recent years, the militants have increasingly used improvised explosive devices to target patrol units and convoys, posing a severe threat to both security forces and civilians. Monday’s attack highlights the persistent danger faced by officers stationed in Kenya’s northeastern frontier and the urgent need for sustained counterterrorism efforts.
The National Police Service has condemned the attack and reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity. “These acts of terror will not deter us,” a senior officer said during a press briefing. “We will pursue the attackers relentlessly and bring them to justice.”
Community members are urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to authorities. The government continues to invest in intelligence gathering, local partnerships, and cross-border collaboration to prevent future attacks and enhance security in the region.
