More than 36 people are feared dead after suspected Al shabaab militants attacked them in a quarry at Kormey, 15 km from Mandera town at about 4 am this morning.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that at least 20 gunmen carried out the assault. Reports also indicate that several people are missing following the dawn attack that comes barely a week after another 28 people were killed in a Nairobi bound bus in the same area.
Those killed were reported to have been non-Muslims. They were shot in the head while two were decapitated.
The dawn attacks came barely hours after explosions and heavy gunfire rocked the town of Wajir Monday evening. One person was confirmed to have been killed in the Wajir raid.
A police officer was reported to have said the assault was probably carried out by Somali Islamist militants. The incident occurred at Wajir's Ngamia area, where there are police posts and a social club used by government workers.
The Kenya Red Cross said about a dozen people were taken to hospital after the blasts and gunfire.
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for both attacks. The Somali Islamist group al Shabaab has said in the past that it would attack Kenya in retaliation for Nairobi's decision to send Kenyan troops to Somalia with an African Union peace keeping force.
Last month, al Shabaab said its recruits had hijacked a busin north Kenya and shot dead 28 non-Muslim passengers - the latest in a line of attacks claimed by the group.
Recent security lapse has stoked criticism of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his government, with opponents pointing out failure to protect the country.
www.doitadigital.com