Al-Shabaab's morning raid leaves 3 teachers dead in Kenya

GARISA- Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants unleashed yet again on Kenyan soil even with assurances from government that "no citizens will die from the cowardly attacks".

Three teachers from Garissa County succumbed to their injuries following the Monday morning raid in the largely insure northeastern region, police said.

The slain teachers, police report indicated, were non-locals, a move that could reignite debate to have the tutors withdrawn from the region.

According to the police report, the gang staged an attack on Kamuthe police post in Fafi Sub-County at 2.00 am.

Militants targeted a police post

“The militants set the police camp on fire and further tried to bring down the communication mast located about three hundred (300) metres away,” report partly read.

Monday's attack is the 11th in a span of two months amid reports that President Uhuru Kenyatta summoned an emergency meeting to discuss the raids.

Among those summoned were Interior Minister Dr. Fred Matiang'i and Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti, sources said.

Uhuru has been at the coastal region for the past two weeks and is said to be "very concerned" about endless raids by the militants, reports added.

On Wednesday, a crisis meeting to discuss a potential strategy to weed out Al-Shabaab has been organised by the president.

Security officers deployed to Garissa

Police officers drawn from Bura East Police Station are headed to the scene despite fears that the militias could have planted IEDs on the road, police said.

To thwart possible ambush, police have said, security officers are keenly navigating the terrain to avoid possible deaths.

Incidentally, this is the third raid at a police post targeting security forces within two weeks, something that could further raise concerns from locals.

Last week, the militants attacked Olla police station in Mandera North and Soretho Police post in Garissa. Special Forces were deployed by government to secure the regions.

While no deaths were reported at Olla, four civilians and two Al-Shabaab militants were killed in the Soretho raid, police said.

Non-locals major target for Al-Shabaab

Besides the security forces, the militants have often targeted non-locals, mostly doctors and teachers deployed to the impoverished region.

On December 6th last year, two teachers, a medical doctor and eight security forces were killed after a Mandera-bound bus was flagged down in Wajir, government said.

Garissa County Director of Education Khalif Isack said the three teachers were butchered by the militants at 1.30 am local time.

"It's true they have butchered our three teachers. They were targeting male teachers. They spared the female teachers," Isack said.

Destruction of communication masts

Also, Communication infrastructure has been a major target for the militants, witg the sole aim being paralysing communication during attacks.

For instance, the militants set ablaze Safaricom mast at Olla last week. A similar destruction was witnessed at Soretho, said forces confirmed.

The militants also razed down the local health centre and destroyed the Safaricom mast, County Commissioner Meru Mwangi said.

Telecommunication companies have poorly invested in the infrastructure at the Northern Frontier Districts due to frequent destructions by the militants.

Al-Shabaab threatens more raids

After a daring raid at Camp Simba in Lamu last week, which hosts US Marine and KDF troops, Al-Shabaab threatened more attacks.

The terror group said: "Kenya will never be safe again. We shall attack US interests until they leave Muslim lands."

Kenya has deployed over 2,600 soldiers in Somalia for peace keeping mission. The US has also deployed 500 soldiers for logistical support.

Already, the UK has sent travel advisory to her citizens visiting Kenya following the continue raids waged by the terror group.

Kenya remains optimistic in the war

However, both Kenya and her allies have remained unbowed in the fight against Al-Shabaab, which is yet to be designated as a terror group by UN.

General Stephen Townsend, the Commander US Africa Command, said last week that "Al-Shabaab believes in propaganda but we shall defeat them."

KDF spokesman Col Paul Njuguna said "Kenya shall pursue the militants and flush them out of their hideouts until they are vanquished."

There are calls from a section of politicians from Kenya to have troops deployed along Kenya-Somalia border instead of the interior parts of the war torn nation.

GAROWE ONLINE