Four Killed as Al-Shabaab Ambushes Kenyan Construction Workers Near Somalia

Suspected Al-Shabaab militants ambushed and fatally shot four Kenyan construction workers near the border with Somalia on Saturday noon.

The brazen attack occurred at a construction site near a hospital and the Dadaab refugee camp, an area known for the presence of the extremist group's activities. According to reports, a group of eight workers was taking a break when armed men suddenly opened fire, leaving four workers dead and the remaining four narrowly escaping unharmed. Authorities suspect that the militants may have staged the attack after the contractor ignored their initial warning to halt construction in the area as the terror group seeks to assert its dominance within the border region through violent means.

The Kenyan government has swiftly increased security measures in the affected area in response to the tragedy. The Interior Ministry led by CS Kithure Kindiki has emphasized the need for heightened vigilance and robust security measures to counter such threats. The attack has also prompted the government to suspend plans to reopen the 700-kilometer Kenya-Somalia border, which had been closed since 2011 due to escalating tensions and the threat posed by Al-Shabaab. The recent incident is part of a concerning pattern of attacks by Al-Shabaab militants in the border regions.

Just two days prior, police officers in Mandera discovered explosive devices that were about to detonate, narrowly averting a potential disaster. On March 29, six Kenyan businessmen were also shot dead by the militants in Dhobley, another border town. Liboi Deputy County Commissioner Ali Manduku acknowledges the terrorists' attempt to assert control in the border town through such attacks. The Kenyan authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to counter the extremist threat while ensuring the safety of civilians and workers in these vulnerable areas.