The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Council of Nomadic Education, Aron Yussuf, and Ijara MP aspirant Ibrahim Abbas on Sunday, June 5, survived an improvised explosive device (IED) attack at Sangole, Garissa county.
Ijara Deputy County Commissioner Willy Cheboi confirmed the incident, revealing that the bomb went off on one of the police vehicles escorting the Abbas' campaign trail.
Cheboi noted that only one vehicle was struck, with five officers sustaining injuries - no fatalities were reported.
"An officer from the National Council for Nomadic Education had requested for security escort towards Hulugho only for the officers to be hit by an explosive along the way,” he reiterated.
Cheboi explained that the police Land Cruiser was leading the three-vehicle convoy before it was attacked. He explained that the damage was minimal because of a premature detonation of the explosive device.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the IED was a remote control bomb, to be detonated using a connected device or weight imposed on it.
Officers from the Kenya Defence Forces combed the area in search of the person who set off the device. The injured officers were rushed to the Manda Bay hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
The stretch from Ijara to Hulugho has been termed as volatile due to terror attacks, with public service vehicles and private cars barred from plying the route without armed police escort.
On January 31, passengers who were travelling along the Arabia - Mandera Road lost their lives after their vehicle ran over an IED believed to have been planted by Al Shabaab sympathizers.
The attacks come amid a spike in insecurity in the region. In line with this, President Uhuru Kenyatta convened a meeting with the country's top security officials to address the issue.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i assured Kenyans of their security adding that they would be vigilant to protect citizens against terrorist attacks.
"President Kenyatta thanked the security chiefs for ensuring sustained peace and tranquillity in the country and assured the officials of continued Government backing, especially in this period leading up to the forthcoming General Election," read the statement.
