Three Injured in Suspected Grenade Attack at Mandera Hotel
Three people, including two teachers, were seriously injured on Saturday evening after a suspected grenade explosion rocked a hotel in Mandera Town. The attack occurred around 6pm in the busy Kona B area, prompting immediate concern among residents and local leaders in a region that has faced recurrent insecurity incidents. The victims were rushed to the Mandera County Teaching and Referral Hospital, where one of them remains in critical condition.
According to community representatives, the attack targeted patrons inside the hotel, with early reports suggesting that two of the injured were non-local teachers working in schools within Mandera East Sub-county. One teaches at Duse Primary School, while the other is stationed at Neboi Primary School in Neboi Ward. The Teachers Service Commission had yet to confirm the incident by the time of reporting. Community leaders expressed relief that no fatalities were recorded but decried the continued pattern of attacks in the region.
Residents say the incident adds to a worrying security trend, with several similar attacks reported in recent months. In July, seven police officers were injured when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) along the Gadudia–Laga Road, a hotspot for terror-related activity. Locals are now urging the national government and security agencies to bolster surveillance and intensify operations along the porous Somalia border, where extremist groups are believed to stage cross-border assaults.
As investigations continue, community leaders insist that both local and national authorities must act swiftly to prevent further attacks targeting civilians and essential service workers. The latest assault has once again highlighted the need for long-term security interventions in Mandera County, where residents remain hopeful that renewed government focus will help restore peace and stability in the region.