On Monday night, gunmen attacked a bus in Sololo, Moyale, Marsabit County, killing at least one passenger and wounding four others.
This incident occurred between Bori Junction and Dadach Lakole area.
The bus, carrying about 40 people, was heading to Marsabit town and then to Nairobi.
After the attack, rescuers rushed the injured to Sololo Mission Hospital, where unfortunately, one victim succumbed to their injuries. Meanwhile, the attackers quickly fled the scene.
Although the motive remains unclear, police suspect the gang is part of a group that prowls the area for valuables.
Notably, this region, near the Kenya-Ethiopia border, has recently faced numerous security incidents.
Survivors reported that the attackers initially targeted the driver, attempting to force him to stop.
Despite damaging the windshield and deflating a front tire, the brave driver managed to escape the danger zone and seek help for the victims.
In response, Eastern police boss Charles Naibei announced that multi-agency teams are now pursuing the attackers. However, they have made no arrests yet as they continue investigating the motive.
Recently, this area has faced various challenges, including deadly illegal mining activities and gang attacks. Consequently, many are calling for immediate action to address the worsening situation.
Security agencies have linked some of these attacks to gangs from Ethiopia and have sought Addis Ababa’s help to contain the problem.
As a result, top Kenyan security officials flew to the Ethiopian capital on August 22 for a meeting to discuss the escalating insecurity.
Furthermore, security agencies from both Kenya and Ethiopia claim that the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), known as “Shene” by Ethiopian authorities, has established direct connections with al Shabaab militants based in Somalia.
This alliance between the two groups could further destabilize the region.
The OLA operates in Ethiopia, while al-Shabaab has its base in Somalia. The agencies report that the OLA engages in various illegal activities in the border region.
They have been getting involved in contraband trade, illegal arms trafficking, and illegal mining.
To counter these threats, Ethiopia and Kenya have decided to enhance their cooperation through joint intelligence exchange and coordinated operations.
Moreover, officials believe the OLA recently abducted two South Korean nationals, David Lee and his mother-in-law, Hiwi Sokk Cheon, and handed them over to al-Shabaab.
Armed assailants seized the victims on August 12 from their residence within the Odda Mission Church (OMC) Secondary School compound.
The kidnapped missionaries were known for their contributions to local development and humanitarian efforts.
National security teams began a broad search, using patrols, air surveillance, and intelligence, to find and rescue the kidnapped missionaries.