By ZAHRA RASHID zrashid@ke.nationmedia.com AND XINHUA
Daily Nation – Kenya
Six people have been killed in fresh wave of violence in Mandera County.
Four of them died when the militia attacked a vehicle they were travelling in at Qooqae, Takaba constituency. Seven others are missing.
Two more bodies were found near the scene of the shooting, according to the police.
Tension is building up in neighbouring regions especially Rhamu District where both the Garre and the Degodia clans reside.
The attacks come barely two weeks after 30 people were killed and thousands displaced in inter-clan fighting in the county.
Police said the vehicle, which was headed to Takaba from Mandera, was ambushed on Tuesday afternoon.
“The vehicle carrying 13 passengers was indiscriminately sprayed with bullets by the bandits after the driver slowed down at a rough patch of the road killing the four instantly,” Takaba OCPD Joseph Tenai told the Nation by phone.
The police boss said that seven other passengers escaped to nearby villages, among them schoolgirls on mid term break.
He said those killed include two students and two young men who are yet to be identified. Two other passengers seriously injured in the attack were admitted to hospital.
“Of the four killed, two were school children; a girl in Form Three and a Class Four boy. A mother and her child were seriously injured. A search for the missing is ongoing,” Mr Tenai added.
At the same time, Britain has issued a fresh travel advisory to its nationals on Kenya.
The British Foreign Office issued the warning on Tuesday to holidaymakers in Kenya following attacks in Mombasa and Nairobi on Sunday, which injured at least 20 people.
“There is a high threat from terrorism. The main threat is from extremists linked to Al-Shabaab, a militant group in Somalia opposed to the Somali Government. Al-Shabaab has issued public threats against Kenya because of its military intervention in Somalia,” the warning reads.
Places of worship
The Foreign Office said terrorist attacks may target official buildings like government offices and law enforcement personnel or facilities, but could also be indiscriminate.
“Attacks may occur in places frequented by foreigners like hotels, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, supermarkets, buses, shopping centres and beaches. Attacks have previously targeted places of worship including churches and mosques. Be particularly vigilant in these areas,” the warning said.
Police have intensified security to counter potential reprisal attacks which resulted in the killing of a suspect believed to be behind Sunday’s attack in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate which left four people injured.
