KDF Troops Kill Five Suspected al-Shabaab Militants in Boni Forest Ambush
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops have killed five suspected al-Shabaab fighters during an operation inside the dense Boni Forest in Lamu County. The Tuesday raid, carried out by Special Forces on an intelligence-led patrol, targeted a makeshift militant hideout at Lacta Mangai, a remote area long used by extremists as a staging ground for attacks. The soldiers launched a surprise ambush after spotting the secret camp, triggering a fierce exchange that left the five militants dead.
Military officials confirmed that several other fighters are believed to have escaped with injuries as the troops pursued the group deeper into the forest. The operation yielded a cache of weapons and supplies, including AK-47 rifles, RPG launchers, ammunition, solar panels, tents, and equipment linked to the construction of improvised explosive devices. KDF described the mission as part of ongoing efforts under Operation Amani Boni, an initiative aimed at flushing out remnants of al-Shabaab militants from the Kenya–Somalia border region. The military urged residents to stay alert and continue sharing information that could help disrupt extremist activities.
The latest raid comes amid renewed concern that the terror group has been attempting to re-establish bases in the expansive Boni Forest, prompting a series of intensified patrols. Lamu has suffered repeated militant attacks over the years, including deadly roadside bombings targeting security convoys. Just last month, three KDF soldiers were killed and seven others injured when their vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device along the Kiunga–Sankuri road. The region still carries painful memories of the June 2014 massacres in Mpeketoni and Kibaoni, where more than 90 people were killed in coordinated assaults claimed by the group.
Despite multiple multi-agency operations—among them Operation Linda Boni and the ongoing Amani Boni—armed militants continue to stage sporadic ambushes across Lamu, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties. Security agencies, however, maintain that they are gradually degrading the group’s networks and weakening its ability to operate within Kenya. Authorities believe continued collaboration between security forces and local communities will be crucial in restoring long-term stability, enabling development projects to resume in areas still affected by insecurity.