A multi-agency security comprising Kenyan law enforcement personnel on Wednesday conducted a raid on a Al Shabaab camp in Garissa and neutralised four militants planning to attack Kenyan forces.
The morning attack on the Al Shabaab camp was staged by the elite officers who had earlier received a tip-off from members of the public privy to the militants' operation.
At the scene of operation, the officers ambushed an unidentified number of Al Shabaab militants while in the process of making bombs also known as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
As highlighted in the police report, a fierce exchange of fire ensued leading to the killing of the four militants and seizure of IED making materials.
"The officers seized of IED materials, ammunition, and medical supplies. A number of militants also escaped with bullet injuries.
"These supplies could have been used to treat wounded Al Shabaab fighters, so their removal will make it more difficult for the group to sustain its operations," the statement read in parts.
The multi-agency security team which composed of members of the National Police Service, National Intelligence Service and Kenya Defence Forces thanked the villagers for the valuable information that led success of the operation.
It was noted that a corporation between the security organs and local villagers is key in fighting insurgency along Kenyan borders.
"The success of the operation is a testament to the corporation between locals and officers," the statement read in parts.
The Kenyan military has been conducting operations against Al Shabaab in northern Kenya since 2011. The group has carried out numerous attacks in Kenya, including the 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, which killed 67 people.
The Kenyan military has made significant progress in its fight against Al Shabaab, but the group remains a threat. In recent months, there has been an increase in Al Shabaab attacks in northern and coastal Kenya.
In July 2023, Al Shabaab militants attacked civilians in Lamu, Garissa and Mandera County, killing at least 10 people. In August 2023, the group video-taped their attack on Kenyan forces, triggering anger among Kenyans.
The Kenyan military has responded to these attacks with a concerted ground operations. In August 2023, a multi-agency security team launched several attacks against an Al Shabaab camps in Boni Forest in Lamu, killing several militants.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has reiterated that the government is committed to defeating Al Shabaab.
