Al-Shabaab kills police in Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya - Al-Shabaab militants on Sunday killed at least two police officers in Kenya, following a roadside explosion that blew a vehicle that they were traveling in, adding to increased cases of insecurity within the East African nation, which is actively involved in the crackdown against the militants.

The blast, sources say, targeted members of the Quick Response Unit [QRU], one of the multi-agency security contingent patrolling the porous Kenya-Somalia border, which Al-Shabaab have often crossed to wage an attack on Kenyan soil.

According to security forces, the incident took place in Arabia, a town located on the outskirts of Mandera, northeastern part of the country. Recently, senior leaders from the county maintained that almost the entire region was still under the control of Al-Shabaab militants, a claim disputed by the Interior Ministry.

The injured were sent to a local hospital and two of them are in critical condition, the police said. The Minister of Interior and National Administration Kithure Kindiki and his Defence counterpart Aden Duale recently visited the border towns, urging locals to cooperate with security teams in the crackdown against the Al-Shabaab.

In July, Kenya suspended plans to reopen the official border points of Mandera-Bula Hawo, Liboi-Dhoblely, and Kiunga-Ras Kamboni, citing increased Al-Shabaab activities along the border. The border points were set for reopening after several meetings between Kenya and Somalia.

To boost security and stability in the region, Kenya has also erected several Forward Operating Bases that will host the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF]. Already, 14 Forward Operating Bases have been constructed by KDF who are also playing a critical role in the stabilization of Somalia.

In the coming weeks, the Kenya Defense Forces are also expected to join the Somali National Army and US Africa Command in the second phase of operations against Al-Shabaab, which will primarily target Jubaland and Southwest. Kenya used Jubaland as a buffer zone in the Al-Shabaab war.

GAROWE ONLINE