Eight police officers from the Border Patrol Unit were injured on Tuesday after their armoured vehicle struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the Kiwanja-Yumbis area of Fafi Sub-county, Garissa County.
The blast occurred approximately 10 kilometres from Yumbis town while the officers were on routine patrol.
Authorities suspect the device was planted by Al-Shabaab militants, who have been active in Kenya’s northeastern region near the Somali border.
Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo confirmed the attack, stating that the injured officers were receiving medical treatment and were in stable condition.
Following the incident, a joint security operation was launched to track the perpetrators and secure the area.
Security forces are conducting surveillance and reconnaissance missions to prevent further attacks.
The assault is the latest in a series of IED-related incidents targeting security forces in northeastern Kenya.
On July 8, seven police officers were wounded in a similar attack in Mandera East, when their patrol vehicle hit an IED along the Gadudia–Laga Road.
Six of the officers sustained injuries ranging from limb wounds to head trauma, while their vehicle suffered significant damage.
In May, three officers narrowly escaped an IED blast in Daadab, also in Garissa County.
The explosive, believed to have been planted by militants, detonated early in the morning along a patrol route.
Security experts note that Al-Shabaab increasingly relies on IEDs to wage asymmetric warfare.
These explosives allow militants to inflict casualties and damage without engaging directly with Kenya’s better-armed forces.
Their use of roadside bombs and hidden devices makes them difficult to detect, posing a persistent threat to patrols and convoys operating in remote areas.
The government continues to ramp up surveillance, intelligence gathering, and response measures in Garissa, Mandera, and other volatile counties near the Somalia border.
However, officials warn that the evolving tactics of militant groups require ongoing vigilance and community cooperation to safeguard security personnel and civilians.