Nine police officers were injured on Tuesday morning after their armoured vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) in Kiwanja-Yumbis area of Fafi sub-county, Garissa County. Authorities suspect the device was planted by Al-Shabaab militants operating in the region.
According to an official police report, the officers — attached to the Border Patrol Unit (BPU) — were travelling approximately 10 kilometres from Yumbis town when the explosion occurred. No fatalities were reported, but the injured officers were immediately evacuated to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) hospital in Hagadera refugee camp for treatment.
“Security personnel responded swiftly, and the area has been secured. All other officers are accounted for,” the report stated.
The attack underscores the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab operatives in northeastern Kenya, especially along the porous border with Somalia. The Somali-based terror group has frequently targeted Kenyan security forces with roadside bombs, ambushes and cross-border incursions.
This latest incident follows a series of IED attacks in Garissa County in recent months. In July 2025, two civilians were killed in Bodhai, Madah Adon area of Ijara, while in April, two General Service Unit (GSU) officers died and four others were seriously injured in an attack in Dadaab.
Security analysts warn that the frequency of these attacks points to increased militant activity in the border region, raising concerns about the safety of both law enforcement officers and local communities.
Investigations into the Kiwanja-Yumbis attack are ongoing, with authorities pledging to enhance surveillance and intelligence operations in the area.
