Six police officers have been killed in an ambush on a security base in north-east Kenya near the Somali border, a regional official has confirmed.
Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo said the attack, which occurred at 05:30 local time (02:30 GMT) on Sunday, bore the hallmarks of Somali-based Islamist militant group al-Shabab. The officers were preparing for their morning prayers when the assailants struck.
In addition to the six fatalities, four other officers sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment. The attack targeted a camp housing reservists—local volunteers who assist the regular police in securing remote areas.
Mwabudzo described the assault as a “guerrilla-style” raid, consistent with al-Shabab’s repeated cross-border incursions aimed at destabilising the region. “The suspected militia used assorted weapons to overrun the camp,” he added.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility, al-Shabab has a history of launching deadly attacks in Kenya, targeting both security forces and civilians. The al-Qaeda-affiliated group controls large parts of southern and central Somalia and has been engaged in a violent insurgency against Somalia’s government for nearly two decades.
Kenya has faced frequent al-Shabab attacks since 2011, when its military intervened in Somalia to help combat the militant group. Security forces continue to monitor the situation as efforts to stabilise the region persist.
