A devastating Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack in Lamu County has left three Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers dead and seven others injured, intensifying fears of renewed terrorist activity in the region.
The explosion occurred on the Kiunga-Sankuri road near Badaah area early Monday, July 15, 2025, as the soldiers were traveling back to base after a routine operation to transport colleagues in Sankuri.
OFFICIALS CONFIRM TERROR-RELATED INCIDENT
Confirming the tragic incident, Lamu East Deputy County Commissioner George Kubai stated that the military vehicle triggered an IED suspected to have been planted by terror operatives targeting security forces.
“The KDF unit was returning to Kiunga after a transport assignment when the vehicle encountered the explosive. Three brave soldiers lost their lives in the line of duty, and seven others are currently receiving medical care at Kiunga Hospital,” DCC Kubai reported.
SECURITY OPERATION UNDERWAY
Following the explosion, a multi-agency security operation has been launched to track down the perpetrators behind the deadly ambush. Preliminary investigations point to terror elements operating within the border regions of Lamu and Somalia.
Local residents have raised concerns over increased terror threats in the area, urging both the national government and security agencies to intensify patrols and intelligence surveillance along the Kiunga-Sankuri corridor — a region notorious for sporadic militant activity.
“The area has seen growing insecurity in recent months. We call on the government to act fast before more lives are lost,” said a local elder who spoke on condition of anonymity.
HEIGHTENED ALERT ACROSS COASTAL KENYA
The attack has once again drawn attention to the fragile security situation in Lamu County, which borders Somalia and has long been a target for al-Shabaab militants. The latest incident underscores the danger faced by KDF personnel operating in high-risk zones and the persistent threat of IED attacks in Kenya’s border regions.
GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS THE ATTACK
While the Ministry of Defence has yet to issue an official statement, top security officials have condemned the act as cowardly and have reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to eliminating terror networks operating along its borders.
As the country mourns the fallen heroes, tributes continue to pour in across social media, with Kenyans calling for increased protection for military personnel deployed to volatile regions.
