Gunmen attack key town in Kenya near Somalia border

Gunmen believed to be Al-Shabaab militants attacked a village in Mandera County at the border of Kenya-Somalia border and escaped with food and a gun.

Locals and security agencies said they attacked Hareri Hosle a village in Mandera Arabia road. Six cows were killed in an exchange of fire between the gunmen and local security agents.

Locals said the attack started at night fall with about 30 gunmen roaming the village.

One Kenya Police Reserve official was shot in the chest and others had his head grazed.

“They stole one gun from the KPR and his magazine. They also stole food stuff and are believed to have been running low on supplies and ammunition and targeted more raids to rearm and restock,” said a security agent who asked not to be named.

Top security agents visited the area as part of an operation to restore normalcy. This comes weeks after gunmen attacked Mandera Town and abducted two Cuban doctors after killing one of their bodyguards.

The doctors are yet to be rescued. Officials have among others, linked local business rivalry as the cause for the attack on the doctors.

Mandera has been experiencing a lull in attacks from Al-Shabaab gunmen in a trend that was cited on various measures taken by local and national governments.

North Eastern regional boss Mohamed Birik said security agencies in the area are in control. He assured of security in the entire region despite a few incidents that have been reported.