Bandits kill 2 people, injure 10 in an Al-Shabaab-like attack on a bus in Samburu

A deadly attack has left two people dead and ten others seriously injured in an alleged banditry attack along the Maralal-Baragoi route.

Reports indicate that bandits from Samburu North ambushed a bus on Thursday, February 27, at around 6 p.m. The victims were traveling from Maralal to Baragoi when the armed attackers struck.

According to witnesses, the two individuals who lost their lives were bus conductors who succumbed to their injuries at the scene.

The injured passengers were quickly attended to before being transported to Samburu County Referral Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.

A survivor of the attack narrated how the gunmen fired at the bus from a distance, forcing the driver to stop. The attackers then boarded the vehicle and threatened the passengers.

The victim, who spoke to the press, claimed that the attackers deliberately targeted their bus while allowing another one to pass. He further alleged that the region has been under constant threats from armed groups. He also mentioned that he managed to record videos of the incident using his phone.

Local leaders in Samburu have strongly condemned the attack, blaming the government for failing to address the increasing insecurity in the region.

They called for urgent intervention to prevent further violence and ensure the safety of residents and travelers. The incident has reignited concerns about the persistent security challenges in northern Kenya, where banditry and attacks on public transport remain common.

This is not the first time such an attack has happened in the region. In September last year, armed gunmen ambushed a bus heading to Nairobi.

The attackers, believed to be terrorists from the Shifta faction, opened fire on a 60-seater bus traveling along the Moyale-Isiolo route. One passenger was killed on the spot, while six others sustained severe injuries.

The wounded were taken to Sololo Mission Hospital for treatment, but another victim succumbed while being transferred to another medical facility.

Another similar attack took place in June last year along the Wajir-Mandera highway when Al-Shabaab terrorists stopped a bus carrying passengers. They forced the passengers to disembark and threatened them. Fortunately, none of the 55 passengers were killed, but several sustained injuries.

The incident highlighted the persistent dangers posed by armed groups operating in the region.The rising cases of attacks on public transport have left residents and travelers living in fear.

Many have called for increased security deployment along the affected routes to prevent further bloodshed. The government is under pressure to take action and ensure that innocent travelers are not targeted by criminals.