Al Shabaab launch fresh bomb attack in Mandera

By Cyrus Ombati

Tension has once again gripped Mandera town in North Eastern Province after suspected al Shabaab militia launched a bomb attack injuring five residents.

The motar bomb was thrown on Monday night and later followed by sporadic gunfire that lasted almost ten minutes from neighbouring Bulawayo town on the border of Kenya and Somalia.

Police said five residents identified as Yahya Hussein, 10, Mohammed Hussein, 15, Ali Bashir Maalim, 17, Ali Husein, 18, and Abdi Noor, 18, were seriously injured and are admitted to Mandera District Hospital.

"The military is watching the situation. They will take action depending on what happens next," said a senior police officer.

North Eastern PPO Leo Nyongesa said security at the border had been beefed up in anticipation of any such incidents. Locals now live in fear of more attacks and have urged the Government to step up security.

The incident came days after al Shabaab warned that it would attack Kenya in retaliation for training soldiers for the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.

Security alert

"Kenya has constantly disturbed us and now it should face the consequences of allowing Ethiopian troops to attack us from Mandera town," al Shabaab spokesman Sheik Ali Mohamud Rage told a news conference a few weeks ago.

The fighting has displaced thousands of Somalis who fled to Kenya.

Last week police issued a security alert over seven Kenyans reportedly trained by al Shabaab militia on the loose.

The list includes Eric Achayo Ogada alias Swaleh Ibrahim, Steven Mwanzi Osaka alias Duda Brown, Jeremiah Okumu also known as Duba Black or Mohamed.

Others in the list are Sylvester Opiyo Osodo a.k.a Musa, Abbas Hussen Nderito, Ibrahim Ruta also known as Musyoki Kyondi. Police also named Abdulrahman Mutua Daud, Abbas Muhamad Mwai and Juma Ayub Otit Were as terrorist suspects moving between Somalia and Kenya.