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| Alshabaab Militia |
Two Administration Police officers on border patrol were killed on Tuesday after their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) in Kulan, near Dadaab, Garissa County.
Five other officers who were in the same vehicle suffered critical injuries. According to initial assessments, the explosion occurred when the patrol vehicle drove over the concealed device, indicating it had been planted deliberately along the officers’ usual route.
Although no militant group had claimed responsibility by the time of reporting, security officials strongly suspect Al-Shabaab.
This latest attack fits a long-running pattern of IED and ambush incidents targeting Kenyan security forces in the northeastern region.
The Kenya–Somalia border has remained volatile for more than a decade, with militants consistently exploiting the expansive terrain and limited surveillance to stage bomb attacks.
The surge in such incidents is often linked to Kenya’s continued involvement in operations against Al-Shabaab in Somalia.
In previous years, Garissa County has repeatedly witnessed similar tragedies. In July 2023, three officers from a Special Operations Group were killed and eight others injured when their vehicle struck an IED in Kiwanja.
A few months later, in October 2023, two GSU officers died in another roadside bomb attack along the Garissa–Dadaab road, leaving four others seriously wounded.
The region has also recorded non-fatal but severe incidents. On August 5, 2025, an armoured Border Patrol Unit vehicle ran over an IED in Fafi Sub-county, injuring eight officers.
Civilian casualties have also been reported, including a December 2023 incident in which a bomb blast between Egge Dam and Bogyar killed four passengers on a private vehicle.
Security forces have made several attempts to disrupt militant operations. In July 2024, police officers intercepted and shot dead two suspected Al-Shabaab operatives found with IED-making materials along the Garissa–Dadaab road.
Months earlier, in October 2023, two militants died when an explosive device they were planting detonated prematurely — evidence that IED-building networks remain deeply active in the area.
The violence goes beyond roadside bombs. In March 2025, Al-Shabaab fighters launched a deadly assault on a National Police Reservists camp in Fafi, killing six officers and injuring several others.
Historically, Garissa has been a hotspot; even in May 2015, a police convoy was ambushed in the county, underscoring the long-standing security challenges.
The recurring nature of these attacks highlights a persistent threat: heavily armed militants who rely on IEDs to target patrols, exploit predictable routes, and undermine border security.
The Kulan incident is yet another reminder that despite ongoing operations, the northeastern frontier remains one of Kenya’s most dangerous assignments for security personnel.
