8 Kenya police officers die in landmine incident

By Zadock Angira, NAIROBI Kenya

Eight Kenya police officers were killed yesterday in Bodhei at the border of Lamu and Garissa counties after their vehicle ran over a landmine as they were conducting a mobile patrol. They died on the spot.

The bodies have been recovered but were yet to be identified since they were severely disfigured on impact.

“Further to my earlier report, eight bodies have been confirmed dead and the vehicle destroyed beyond recognition, the number of officers who were on board the vehicle, have not been established, special forces have arrived on the ground to process the scene,” a brief to police headquarters read.

The Kenya Defence Forces rushed to the scene and intensified security operations in the area.

Another separate attack was also yesterday reported near Mararani where suspected members of the Al Shabaab group attacked security officers using a rocket propelled grenade.

On Wednesday, two police officers were also killed after an armoured vehicle they were traveling in was hit by an explosive a near the Kenya-Somalia border. Seven other officers from the Quick Response Unit sustained multiple injuries in the 6am attack at Qurqura area in Elwak.

More security personnel have been deployed in the area following the recent persistent attacks and reports that the terrorists could be planning a major attack. Police said the two officers died while undergoing treatment, adding that the attackers, believed to be al Shabaab militants, had planted an improvised explosive device (IED) on the road before they escaped.

As a result of the impact, the police vehicle rolled, landing in a ditch.

The IED forced the vehicle to roll off the road and landed in a ditch injuring the seven officers on board in the 6 am incident. The officers had gone to Elwak town and were from Alungu for fuelling when they were attacked.