Nairobi – October 27, 2025
Kenyan security forces on Monday morning thwarted an attempted bomb attack in Garissa County, averting what could have been a deadly strike by suspected al-Shabaab militants.
According to police reports, officers from the elite Special Operations Group (SOG) intercepted eight men believed to be planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the busy Welmerer–Yumbia road. The group is thought to have planned the attack to target motorists and security patrols using the route.
The operation was launched after local residents reported suspicious activity in the area, prompting a swift response from the SOG unit.
“When our team arrived, the suspects opened fire, sparking a brief exchange,” said one senior officer who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media. “We managed to disrupt their plans and recover the assembled explosives, which were ready for detonation.”
Police said the militants fled into nearby bushes during the confrontation. The recovered explosives were later neutralised by the bomb disposal unit.
Authorities believe the explosives could have caused severe casualties and widespread damage had the attack succeeded.
“This is a stark reminder of the threat we continue to face from al-Shabaab,” said a security source in Garissa. “But it also shows that cooperation with the public is saving lives.”
The government has praised residents for sharing intelligence that helped foil the plot. Officials say collaboration between communities and security forces has grown stronger, especially in border regions such as Garissa, Mandera, and Wajir, where al-Shabaab militants often cross from Somalia.
Ongoing joint operations have intensified in these counties as part of efforts to dismantle terror networks and prevent cross-border incursions.
The attempted bombing comes just days after a deadly ambush in Dagahaley, Wajir County, where suspected al-Shabaab gunmen killed Constable Elijah Orwa during a patrol on 22 October. Orwa and his colleagues had been responding to reports of gunfire when attackers opened fire from a concealed position, sparking a fierce shootout.
Reinforcements arrived later, but Orwa was found fatally wounded beside his rifle. Police believe the ambush was also the work of al-Shabaab fighters operating from across the Somali border.
Kenya has battled the extremist group for over a decade since launching Operation Linda Nchi in 2011 — a military campaign aimed at securing its border after a wave of kidnappings and attacks.
While large-scale assaults have declined, small militant cells continue to stage isolated attacks, particularly targeting security forces and remote communities.
Police have vowed to track down those behind the latest Garissa plot. “We will not relent until they are brought to justice,” said a senior officer in the North Eastern region.
For now, the swift action of the SOG unit — and the vigilance of local residents — has spared Garissa yet another tragedy.