Security teams in Kenya are on high alert after suspected al-Shabaab militants launched separate attacks on two Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) teams in Garissa and Lamu counties. According to officials, the first incident occurred on Saturday, September 19, 2026, in Bura East Sub-County, Garissa County, where KDF personnel providing security along the LAPSSET corridor were probed by suspected al-Shabaab militants armed with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). The KDF officers responded to the incident, prompting the suspected militants to flee towards Degwardey village.
The second incident occurred on the same day at Bodhei Junction in Lamu county, where suspected militants launched a brief probing attack on a KDF camp. The attackers reportedly fired two rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), accompanied by rapid rifle fire, targeting the KDF camp. The attack lasted approximately two minutes before the militants were repulsed by security personnel. Witnesses reported that there were no casualties or injuries among security personnel or civilians during the attack.
These incidents are part of a series of attacks that have been happening in the region amid ongoing security operations. Last week, officials reported that security operations were mounted after suspected al-Shabaab militants attempted to attack an Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) camp in Elram, Mandera county, but were repulsed by security officers. A similar incident occurred at a General Service Unit camp in Kiunga, Lamu county, with no reported injuries.
According to police officials, the first incident occurred on September 10, 2026, at the ASTU Elram Camp, where al-Shabaab militants had been spotted at Chabicha Hills, heading towards the camp. The police had already taken defensive positions when the militants launched a probing attack from the eastern side of the camp, using rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and AK-47 rifles from a distance of approximately 230 meters from the officers’ defensive positions.
Security officers were expected to remain vigilant as investigations and efforts to establish the identities and movements of the suspected militants continued. A similar probing attack occurred on a General Service Unit (GSU) camp in Milimani, Lamu East Sub-County, on September 10, 2026, where the attackers fired a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and several rounds of rifle ammunition at the camp for a few minutes.
The incidents underscore the persistent threat posed by al-Shabaab militants operating along Kenya’s porous border with Somalia, despite sustained counterterrorism operations by Kenyan security forces. The area has witnessed repeated cross-border incursions targeting security personnel, communication infrastructure, and public transport in recent years.
Kenya deployed the Kenya Defence Forces into Somalia under Operation Linda Nchi on October 14, 2011, following a series of cross-border attacks and kidnappings that threatened the country’s security and tourism sector. Security agencies have stepped up patrols and surveillance to deter cross-border attacks by suspected al-Shabaab militants, with police and military officers expected to maintain heightened vigilance in the area as security operations continue.
Key points
- The attacks occurred amid ongoing security operations and persistent security concerns along Kenya’s coastal border with Somalia.
- The suspected al-Shabaab militants used rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and AK-47 rifles in the attacks.
- No casualties or injuries were reported during the incidents.
