Two officers from the National Police Reserve (NPR) were killed and two others injured on Wednesday after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near the Kenya–Somalia border in Mandera County, police have said.
The incident occurred at Kulun Border Point Four, along the Bulla Hawa–Mandera border, about 100 metres inside Kenyan territory in Mandera East Sub-County.
According to a police report, the officers were on routine duty when they stepped on an IED that had been planted on the ground.
The officers who died in the blast were identified as Corporal Mohammed Abdow Issack and Police Constable Abdirashid Shabellow Ali. Both were attached to the National Police Reserve and stationed at the remote border post.
Two other officers were injured in the attack. Police Constable Athan Noor Abdullah Abdi sustained critical injuries and is receiving treatment at Mandera Referral Hospital. Another officer, Police Constable (R) Abdullahi Jillow Adan, was injured but is reported to be in stable condition.
In a statement, investigations are still ongoing following the attack.
Following the explosion, multi-agency security teams were deployed to the scene.
The area was sealed off to prevent further harm, and officers carried out a detailed search of the surroundings. During the operation, a second IED was discovered within the same area.
Police said the second explosive device was safely detonated by specialists to avoid additional casualties. Several exhibits were recovered from the scene to support ongoing investigations, and all firearms assigned to the officers were accounted for.
“The scene was secured by multi-agency teams, exhibits were recovered, and a secondary IED was safely detonated. Arms were accounted for,” the statement added.
The bodies of the two officers who died were later released to their families for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
