Mandera County IED attack injures six people

Six people, including one in critical condition, were injured when a Toyota Land Cruiser struck a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) near Odole Village in Elwak Sub-County, Mandera County. The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on a Thursday along the Mandera–Elwak road. The victims were transported to Elwak Sub-County Referral Hospital for medical treatment.

Authorities suspect the attack is linked to Al Shabaab. Police have launched an investigation, though no official responsibility has been confirmed. This incident follows a pattern of increased activity along the Kenya-Somalia border, with at least 25 cross-border incidents recorded this year in Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, and Lamu counties. Security analysts suggest these attacks may be driven by military operations against the group in Somalia’s Jubaland region, pushing fighters into Kenyan territory.