News / Thoughts

Kenya attack kills 14

At least 14 quarry workers have been killed and 12 others badly injured in a gun attack in Kenya. Suspected Al-Shabaab gunmen attacked a workers’ compound in the village of Soko Mbuzi just outside Mandera, on the Somali border in northeastern Kenya.

The attack happened on 7th July and took place around 1 am in the morning. According to a Kenyan newspaper, The Daily Nation, “The attackers planted grenades on the doors but most of the people were sleeping in tents outside their houses due to the hot weather. The attackers then hurled a petrol bomb at the tents before shooting.”

A local source – who preferred to stay anonymous – explained to Open Doors the quarry workers were living in a compound consisting of rooms and a common area. “One survived, but both hands have been shattered by bullets. He cannot talk much but he told me they blasted through the gate and then sprayed bullets.”

Victims were mostly Christian…

The motive for the attack is not known yet, but all of the workers are from elsewhere in Kenya and are considered non-locals and largely Christian. We are continuing to monitor the situation, but the attack is a painful reminder of another outrage in Dec 2014, when al Shabaab members killed 36 quarry workers in Koromey, after separating the Muslims from the Christians.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Mandera is very tense. “We do not feel safe at all,” our source told us.

Source: Open Doors; Daily Nation; BBC

Please pray…

• For the community of Mandera in general and for Christians who experience severe persecution and marginalization in this Muslim dominated area.
• That the church would be a beacon of hope, courage and strength to desperately traumatised people.
• For protection for Christians in the area and for Open Doors staff as they work with the community.