Nairobi: A deadly explosion claimed the lives of three Kenyan soldiers on Tuesday near the country’s border with Somalia, in what is believed to be another cross-border strike by al Shabaab militants.
The incident occurred on the Sankuri–Kiunga road, just 12 kilometers from the Somali frontier, in Garissa County a region long troubled by sporadic extremist violence. According to an official statement from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the soldiers were conducting a routine patrol when their convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along the route. The blast left no survivors in the targeted vehicle, and investigations are underway to determine the full scope of the attack.
The KDF mourned the loss, describing the fallen soldiers as heroes who died protecting national sovereignty and civilian safety. Their names have not been released, pending family notifications. Military sources confirmed that reinforcements were dispatched to the area and combing operations have been intensified along the border zone.
Though no group has officially claimed responsibility, al Shabaab an al Qaeda-linked terrorist organization operating from Somalia has a history of conducting such attacks. The group acknowledged involvement in a recent incident in the area, reporting two enemy casualties and several injuries, although the details differ from the Kenyan military’s account. Analysts believe the attack fits the modus operandi of al Shabaab, which has vowed to target Kenyan forces in retaliation for Nairobi’s military presence in the African Union peacekeeping mission inside Somalia.
This incident follows a series of recent violent flare-ups, including a deadly assault in March 2025 on a police camp in Garissa that killed six officers. Security experts warn that al Shabaab’s operational reach into Kenya poses a serious and sustained threat, particularly in the porous border districts where security infrastructure remains vulnerable.
The Kenyan government has reiterated its commitment to regional peace and has vowed not to retreat in the face of extremist provocations. Meanwhile, residents of the region are calling for heightened security and faster infrastructure development to protect both civilians and patrol units.
As Kenya continues to face the dual challenges of internal and cross-border terrorism, military and civil cooperation remains critical to safeguarding national stability.