At least eight people, including five road construction engineers and two Kenya Police Reservists (KPRs), have been killed after unidentified gunmen ambushed a security vehicle escorting workers in Mandera County.
The deadly attack occurred on Tuesday morning, November 10, at Koromey, near Hagarsu along Arabia Road, where heavily armed assailants opened fire on a vehicle accompanying engineers and other personnel working on the Mandera–Arabia–Lafey road construction project.
According to preliminary police reports, seven victims died at the scene, while the eighth, the driver of the security vehicle, succumbed to critical gunshot injuries while being rushed to Mandera County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The two police reservists were part of the security team assigned to protect the construction workers operating in the volatile border region.
A police officer confirmed the incident, saying additional security personnel had been deployed to the area to pursue the attackers and reinforce security.
Security operation launched to track attackers
Following the ambush, security agencies launched a manhunt for the gunmen, with reinforcements dispatched to the affected area.
Authorities are expected to investigate how the attackers managed to strike the security escort and escape before additional personnel arrived.
Although no group had claimed responsibility by the time of reporting, the attack has raised suspicions of possible involvement by Al-Shabaab militants, who have previously staged attacks in Kenya’s northeastern border counties.
However, police had not officially attributed the latest killings to any particular group.
Mandera faces renewed security concerns
The killings come amid heightened security concerns across the Kenya-Somalia border region, where suspected militants have repeatedly targeted security installations, infrastructure projects and civilians.
On November 7, suspected Al-Shabaab militants launched simultaneous attacks on Hulugho Police Station and the Gesreb Special Operations Group camp in Garissa County.
Security personnel repulsed the attacks, with no casualties reported in the initial police accounts.
In a separate incident in Mandera, security forces at Damasa Forward Operating Base also thwarted an attempted attack after detecting six suspected militants approaching the military position.
The latest killings have renewed questions about the safety of workers involved in major infrastructure projects in remote parts of northeastern Kenya.
The Mandera–Arabia–Lafey road is an important transport and development corridor expected to improve connectivity and access to essential services for communities in the region.
However, repeated security incidents threaten construction activities and expose workers, security personnel and local residents to considerable danger.
The attack also comes months after another deadly incident along the Arabia Road corridor. On May 9, 2026, gunmen reportedly ambushed a passenger vehicle near Beer-Awayon, killing six people.
As investigations continue, security agencies face renewed pressure to strengthen protection along vulnerable routes and bring those responsible for Tuesday’s killings to justice.
For Mandera residents, the latest tragedy is another reminder of the persistent insecurity confronting communities living along Kenya’s northeastern frontier.
