Al-Shabaab Ambush Leaves Kenyan Soldiers Dead in Lamu

Two soldiers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) were killed while responding to an attack on a team of General Service Unit (GSU) officers in Lamu County. Earlier, 10 GSU officers were injured when their armored personnel carrier (APC) ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) suspected to have been planted by al-Shabaab militants. The injured officers were airlifted for medical treatment. During the attack, a response team from the KDF was also ambushed, resulting in several injuries.

The incident occurred on the Pandanguo route near the Boni Forest, where the multi-agency security Operation Amani Boni (OAB) has been ongoing since 2015. The objective of OAB is to flush out militants hiding within the dense forest. The affected GSU officers were conducting their routine patrol when their vehicle encountered the explosive.

After the APC was hit by a roadside bomb, a team aboard a Landcruiser responded but was also targeted by the militants. Following the vehicle rollover, the KDF team arrived at the scene and was ambushed as well. There have been warnings indicating that the terrorists are planning further attacks in the area.

This attack follows the killing of 15 security officials in separate incidents in Lamu and Garissa counties the previous week. It coincides with the nine-year anniversary of the terrorist attack on Mpeketoni, during which 90 people were killed and many were displaced.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki recently visited Lamu to assess the security situation and assured residents of their safety. He emphasized the government’s commitment to combating and ending the terror menace, mentioning the allocation of 20 billion Kenyan shillings for the procurement of advanced security equipment.

The border region near Somalia has frequently experienced attacks from militants, sometimes with the assistance of local collaborators. The militants cross the border at will to carry out attacks before retreating back into Somalia.