4 killed by donkey-borne IED explosion in Mandera

Four people were killed and several injured on Monday when a donkey-borne improvised explosive device (IED) exploded outside an eatery, opposite an administration police camp, in Elwak, Mandera County.

The incident took place at about 7.12 am in the Elkwak central business district of Elwak, causing panic and forcing businesses, including banks, to close.

"Dear esteemed members, we regret to inform you that our Elwak Branch, Mandera County, will remain closed today following an explosion in Elwak Town. We confirm that our branch and the staff in Elwak are safe. However, as the security agencies continue with investigations," Equity Bank told its customers on X.

The bank apologised for the inconvenience and said it was waiting for clearance from security agencies to resume operations.

A police report said the attack, at a location frequented by non-locals seeking menial jobs, was by suspected Al-Shabaab militants. A multi-agency team led by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) inspected the scene and opened an investigation.

Five injured people, who were taken to the El Wak Sub-county Hospital, urged authorities to enhance security in the area.

A survivor who identified himself only as John, said, "We came to this town to look for jobs but if this is the case, we want security heightened everywhere."

Sylvester Alan, another survivor, called on security personnel to enhance safety throughout the North Eastern region.

Mandera South MP Abdul Haro condemned the attack and pledged support for the victims and their families.

Recent similar attack

The incident is the latest of animal-borne IED attacks in the area.

In January a donkey cart was used to ferry an IED at the Kenya-Somalia border, close to where Kenyan police officers were manning the area.

The cart left Bula Hawa, Somalia, without detonating on the local security officers manning the border, crossed the no man's land and entered Kenya's side, where it was intentionally diverted from the main road to where some Kenyan officers were sheltering itself from the sun when it exploded killing one officer and critically injuring four others.

"We believe they (attackers) were targeting our officers because the cart and its guide passed their (Somalia) checkpoint without detonating. It only did so after the rider diverted to where our officers were sitting under a shade and jumped off the cart," Mandera County Commissioner Amos Mariba said at the time.

Violent extremist attacks

The latest report on trends of violent extremist attacks and arrests in Kenya covering the period between January and December last year shows that security agencies managed to foil multiple attacks in the year, leading to a decline in incidences.

"Reports have pointed to numerous foiled terror attacks by security officials. Attacks decreased by 6.5 per cent from 77 in 2022 to 72 reported in 2023. June recorded the highest number of attacks at 19, with at least 58 fatalities and 58 people injured," the report shows.

"151 people were injured; security officials at 93, civilians at 45, and Al-Shabaab militants at 10. Three people were kidnapped: 2 in Lamu and one in Garissa," the report adds.

59 people were arrested for terror-related offences: 46 men, 8 women, and 5 individuals whose gender was not specified.

The nationalities of those arrested were 16 Kenyans, 10 Tanzanians, three Somali citizens, 1 Ugandan, and 29 undisclosed.