Wamuzi News Ke
In a shocking cross‑border incident that has sent alarm through border communities, four Kenyan civilians were seriously injured in Mandera County after being struck by stray bullets originating from neighbouring Somalia, according to local officials.
The gunfire erupted during an intense clash between the Somalia National Army (SNA) and Jubbaland Special Forces in the Somali border town of Belet Hawa. Although the firefight remained on Somali soil, bullets crossed into Kenyan territory, hitting four unarmed residents in Mandera County. None of the victims had any connection to the hostilities; they were simply in the wrong place at a dangerous time.
County Commissioner Henry Ochako confirmed that the bullets were not deliberately aimed at civilians. “Four of our people were hurt in an unfortunate turn of events after they were hit by stray bullets from Somalia’s side following a fire exchange between SNA and Jubbaland Special Forces,” Ochako said, emphasising that the victims had no target of interest in the conflict.
Mandera residents living near the border are left vulnerable, with no protection from violence unfolding just a few kilometres away. The county has previously suffered repeated displacement due to insecurity, and this latest incident has renewed fears of escalation.
In response, authorities have opened Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, stocked with food and essential supplies, for families forced to flee from border communities. Additionally, the county’s disaster response unit has been deployed to evacuate the elderly, children, and persons with disabilities to safer urban centres. A dedicated medical task force is already treating the injured civilians who received emergency attention immediately after being hit.
The violence is tied to an ongoing power struggle over the Gedo region in Somalia, where federal government forces and Jubbaland authorities remain locked in a volatile standoff. How this dispute will continue to affect communities across the border remains deeply uncertain.
Kenyan security officials have appealed to people living near the border to stay alert. Residents are urged to report any signs of cross‑border shootings immediately to authorities, while government agencies weigh additional measures to safeguard border towns.
What this means now:
- The presence of military engagements in Belet Hawa poses a direct threat to Kenyan civilians living just across the border.
- The inability to contain cross-border fire highlights gaps in regional communication and coordination.
- Local authorities face pressure to expand protections and early-warning systems for vulnerable border communities.
Mandera remains on edge as medical teams continue to support the injured, and displaced families settle into temporary shelters. With heightened tension in neighbouring Somali regions, border towns on the Kenyan side brace for further fallout if the Somali conflict spirals again.
