Five KDF soldiers killed in an landmine explosion in Lamu, worry over increased IED attacks

The truck after the explosion.The officers were on humanitarian assignment to fetch and distribute water to residents. (Courtesy)

LAMU—Five Kenya Defence Forces soldiers were killed and 10 others wounded after their vehicles ran over an Improvised Explosive Device(IED) in Lamu county.

Confirming the incident, KDF Spokesperson Colonel Paul Njuguna said the attack happened at around 8am while the officers were on humanitarian assignment to fetch and distribute water to residents.

“The soldiers hit the explosive along the Kiunga and Sankuri road injuring 10 others,” Njuguna said.

(Courtesy)

“We thank the locals who offered assistance to the soldiers and call upon them to assist in weeding out lurking terror elements.” he added.

This is the latest such attack targeting security agencies in the country with a section of Lamu County and areas bordering war-torn Somalia hard hit.

Recently, the Al Shabaab have sort to use IEDs to stage their attacks. Security officers have been the most affected in such attacks.

The attack come barely three weeks after six KDF soldiers were killed and five others injured in Lamu, when their vehicle struck an IED at Kwa Omollo Bridge on the Bodhei-Bar’goni road.

On August 13 three contractors were killed in Mandera county along the border with Somalia in a similar attack.

Mandera East residents through their MP Omar Mohamed, last month drafted a a petition calling for the withdrawal of  KDF from Somalia, over increased attacks on Kenyans especially along the border.

In the recent past Al Shabaab has launched attacks in Kenya targeting civilians, in revenge for Kenya moving its troops into Somalia in 2011.

Over 100 security officers have been killed through IEDs in Lamu, Wajir, Mandera and Garissa counties in the past three years.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday met US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington DC where the two pledged to build on acquisition of military equipment made in the United States.

“We have had very good and excellent cooperation, especially in our fight against terrorism because of the neighborhood that we’re in — Al Shabaab fights, which the United States have been a very good, strong, and solid partner.” said president Kenyatta.