Fresh details have emerged about why Al-Shabaab militants are increasingly targeting medical officers in their recent kidnappings.
According to intelligence reports seen by the Star, Al Shabaab militants have recently suffered casualties during engagements with Amisom forces in Somalia and US air strikes including where the US killed 52 al Shabaab extremists in January.
As a result, Coastal DCI chiefs, and Anti Terror Police bosses in Northern Kenya have been warned that the militia group is in dire need of doctors and medical equipment, the reason they want to kidnap medics.
The group is believed to be planning to hijack a county government ambulance which has been plying the El Wak – Kotulo route.
The report further indicated that the ragtag group was planning a number of attacks in Mandera including bombing the Mandera airstrip and kidnapping a number of NGO workers, foreigners, and government officials.
It is believed that the group may heighten its operations within the region with the onset and beginning of Ramadhan set to begin next month.
In March, the Al-Shabaab kidnapped two Cuban doctors in Mandera.
However, according to Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai there was nothing to fear about.
He stated that the security personnel is on alert, working overtime and have already prevented many attacks.
Mutyambai added that the terror group could be making alarming alerts to create an environment of fear to ruin Kenya's economy by scaring away tourists and investors but vigilance has been heightened.
