At least two members of Kenya’s National Police Reserve (NPR) were killed on Wednesday evening after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated at a border point in Mandera County, near the Kenya–Somalia frontier.
The explosion occurred at around 6:00 p.m. on January 14, 2026, at Point Four’s Kulun area, which lies along the Kenya–Somalia border and directly borders Bula Hawa town in Somalia.
Police said the NPR officers were on duty at the site when the device exploded. Those killed were identified as NPR Corporal Mohamed Issack and NPR Constable Abdirashid Shabbellow.
Two other officers sustained serious injuries in the blast and were rushed to hospital, where they were reported to be in critical condition.
Security officials who visited the scene said preliminary findings indicate that the explosive device had been planted at the location where the NPR officers routinely operate. Investigators recovered a destroyed mobile phone believed to have been used to trigger the explosion.
According to police, the recovered phone contained a Somalia-registered SIM card and has been taken for forensic analysis as investigations continue.
Security agencies have launched a full investigation into the incident, amid heightened concerns over cross-border attacks and the use of improvised explosive devices in the region.
Mandera County, which borders Somalia, has previously experienced similar security incidents linked to militant activity and cross-border infiltration.
Mustaqbal
