Al-Shabaab Resurgence Raises Security Concerns in Northern Kenya and Coastal Regions

A recent surge in deadly attacks attributed to al-Shabaab militants has ignited fresh security anxieties across northern Kenya and coastal areas. 

Within a single day, suspected members of the Somalia-based extremist group carried out separate assaults resulting in at least ten fatalities, including both law enforcement officers and civilian quarry workers. The initial incident occurred in the early hours in Mandera's Burabor area, where five quarry workers were ambushed and fatally shot while en route to their worksite. 

The absence of security personnel at the quarry left the miners vulnerable to the attackers, believed to be affiliated with al-Shabaab. Later that evening, a coordinated ambush targeted law enforcement officers operating in the Boni Forest, a long-standing epicentre of Kenya's counterterrorism operations. In this attack, five officers from a specialised unit were killed, with several others sustaining injuries. Preliminary reports indicate that the officers were in pursuit of militants attempting to infiltrate Lamu from Garissa when they were ambushed.

These incidents are the latest in a series of security breaches linked to al-Shabaab. Earlier in February, coinciding with an impending visit by President William Ruto to northern Kenya, five chiefs were abducted along the Wargadud-Elwak road. The administrators, identified as Mohammed Adawa, Mohammed Hassan, Mohammed Noor Ibrahim Gabow, and Abdi Suraw, were forcibly taken into Somalia. Negotiations led by regional elders eventually secured their release in April, following two months in captivity, although speculations of ransom payments persist.

In March, militants staged an unusual incursion into Mangai, a small settlement within Lamu County's Boni Forest. Over 100 heavily armed al-Shabaab members gathered residents for an orchestrated assembly, deviating from typical violent tactics. The militants delivered sermons and distributed dates to locals, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan. While no harm was inflicted during the visit, stern warnings were issued against alerting authorities.

Despite the escalating threat, Kenyan authorities have sought to downplay the severity of the recent attacks. National Police Service spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga characterised the incidents as "isolated," asserting that security agencies maintain firm control of the situation. Similarly, Mandera County Commissioner Henry Ochako attributed the quarry workers' deaths to a lapse in security adherence, noting their decision to travel without an escort.

However, the persistent attacks have heightened pressure on security forces to implement decisive measures. Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif has assured residents of active investigations into the quarry killings, pledging preventative measures. In response to the Boni Forest attack, senior officials, including Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, and Deputy IG Eliud Lagat, visited injured officers in Nairobi to assess their recovery.