News / Thoughts

Kenya: Attack leaves dozens dead

Suspected Al-Shabaab militants have killed 36 quarry workers in a town 10 miles from the northeastern town of Mandera, on Kenya’s border with Somalia.

During the attack, which took place on Tuesday 2 December, gunmen separated the Muslims from among the workers and then shot dead the Christians. A man who visited the scene of the attack told the BBC some of the victims appear to have been lined up and shot in the head at close range. Some reports referred to decapitations. Other reports suggested the workers’ tents had been sprayed with gunfire.

An Open Doors contact in the region says an unknown number of workers have also been abducted.

The atmosphere in the area remains extremely tense, according to a local source. “There has been lots of gunfire near the Kenya-Somali border so we cannot venture out just yet… Please pray for us. We are fervently praying that some [of the workers] fled into the surrounding bushes and will make their way back to Mandera town. These are people we know and it is very painful! May God help the survivors get back to us.”

The quarry attack follows an incident on 1 December, when assailants hurled grenades into a social club frequented by government officials in Wajir a town not far from Mandera also close to the Somali border, before opening fire on the fleeing patrons. One person was killed and 12 injured. Al-Shabaab has also claimed responsibility for an attack on a bus in Mandera County at the end of November in which 28 non-Muslims were separated from other passengers and shot dead.

Source: Open Doors, BBC News

Please pray…

• For God’s comfort for the families of all the victims
• For courage, protection and peace for Christians in the Mandera area who are facing a very fearful situation
• For wisdom for Kenya’s leaders in dealing with the threat posed by Al-Shabaab.