Kitui Senator appeals for state support to victims of Mandera terror attack

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua has called on the government to support families of the victims of the April 29, Mandera attack.

Addressing Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki at the Senate on Wednesday morning, Wambua revealed that amongst the victims of the attack were seven constituents of Mwingi West and Mwingi Central.

"Three died and four are still admitted at the Kenyatta National Hospital. Their families are making a request for reprieve in the treatment of those in hospital in terms of footing the medical bills, in the meeting of burial expenses and body reconstruction," he said.

In his response, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki assured the affected families both in Kitui and Mandera of government support.

"I want to assure the Senator for Kitui, my brother Senator Wambua that the government will lend a hand of support to our brothers who were affected by that unfortunate attack on April 29 and the Senator is encouraged to get in touch with me this afternoon so that we can avail what government is able to do to support all the affected families," said the CS during the grilling session at the Senate.

Other victims of the incident were three Ethiopians and three locals including two taxi drivers.

The incident happened after a donkey-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded outside an administration police camp in Elwak town killing 13 and leaving others injured.

The early morning incident that targeted premise houses non-locals including teachers, nurses and police officers caused panic across the town forcing businesses including banks to close.

Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif condemned what he termed a heinous and tragic terrorist attack in the town.

"Our collective commitment to matters of peace and security remains firm despite such cowardly attacks by terror outfits whose aim is to create fear and division," he said at the time.

Animal-borne IED attacks

The April 29 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 themselves from the sun when it exploded killing one officer and critically injuring four others.

Security agencies have described the incidents as acts of cruelty to animals and called on locals to report to authorities incidents where donkeys are in enemy hands to enable security agencies to not only prevent planned attacks but also rescue the animals from harm.

"These acts of misuse and torture of donkeys need to be condemned even as stakeholders work together to protect the rights of the animal. Donkeys are humans' best friends and source of livelihood especially for those who use them for trade like water business or transporting goods," the Counter Terrorism Policing KE implored on Monday.

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 by CHRIPS Kenya, a Nairobi-based Think Tank focusing on research that provides effective solutions to security challenges in Africa 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.