GARISSA, Kenya, Nov 19: Two officers from the Administration Police (AP) have died after their patrol vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Kulan, near Dadaab, on Tuesday morning.
Preliminary reports show the explosive detonated when the patrol vehicle drove over it, causing a powerful blast that left at least five other officers critically injured.
Although investigations are still underway, local authorities suspect the device may have been planted on the patrol route by Al-Shabaab militants.
A past photo showed Al-Shabaab fighters during training drills.
At the time of publishing this report, no militant group had claimed responsibility for the attack.
Region Has Seen Rising IED Attacks
The Dadaab region in Garissa County has recorded several similar strikes in recent months. Armed groups in the area have increasingly used IEDs to ambush Kenyan security personnel.
In May 2025, three police officers survived an early-morning IED attack after their Land Cruiser suffered major damage to the front section. The officers escaped death because the bomb detonated sooner than intended.
Later in October, Kenya’s Special Operations Group (SOG) foiled another attempted attack after intercepting eight suspected militants who were setting up IEDs in the Eelmerer–Yumbia area. Security teams acted swiftly after receiving community intelligence.
Why Militants Prefer IEDs
Militants often turn to IEDs because the devices support asymmetric warfare, allowing smaller groups to target security forces without engaging in direct combat.
Moreover, IEDs are difficult to detect in rugged terrain, which makes them effective for disrupting patrols and stretching local security tactics.
Garissa County Security Concerns Rising
Garissa County has been under growing scrutiny following a recent report indicating that funding cuts and programme disruptions have made it easier for extremist groups to operate around refugee camps and nearby settlements.
The latest incident has once again put pressure on security agencies to tighten surveillance in the region.
