Al-Shabaab destroys telecommunication mast in Elwak town, Northeastern Kenya

A telecommunication mast owned by one of Kenya’s telcom companies, Safaricom has been destroyed after suspected Al-Shabaab fighters attacked Kenyan border town with Somalia.

Dabacity village in Elwak, Mandera County was attacked by Al-Shabaab fighters who engaged with the guards of the mast before overraning the areas, Mandera County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia.

Shisia said the fighters attacked village at about 1.45am Monday and overpowered five Kenya police Reservists (KPR) who were deployed Dabacity village to guard the mast.

“The five KPRs guarding the installation tried to resist but the weapons of the attackers were superior forcing them to run for safety,” he said.

Mr Shisia denied that the attack was a spillover from Somalia’s Elwak where militants were reported to have seized the town on Sunday evening.

“There is no relationship with what happened at Elwak, Somalia. This is a normal terrorist attack according to our assessment,” he said.

Mr Shisia said more security agents were on the ground to ensure “things get back to normal.”

“We have enough security agents in the area and road users can go on with their business without fear of being attacked,” he said.

The attacked coincided with the brief seizure of Elwak town by Al-Shabaab fighters who attacked the town on Monday night.

The town of El Wak is located in Somalia’s Gedo region and borders Kenyan town also called Elwak in Mandera County.