Mandera (KAAB TV) – Tensions have escalated in Mandera County after a 70-year-old woman was struck by a stray bullet believed to have originated from fighting across the border in Somalia.
The incident has reignited fears among local residents living near the porous Kenya-Somalia border, amid ongoing clashes between forces of the Federal Government of Somalia and the Jubaland administration over control of the Gedo region.
The victim, Duha Ulow, was inside her home near the Mandera-Buulo Hawo border on Saturday, September 27, 2025, when she was hit in the upper right arm by a live round.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:00 p.m., during what locals say was a particularly intense exchange of gunfire between the warring Somali factions just across the border.
Heightened Fears in Border Communities
The affected area, already sparsely populated due to ongoing security threats, has been on edge for weeks as tensions across the border in Somalia have escalated. Many residents say they have been living in fear of stray bullets and cross-border incursions, despite recent government assurances.
This attack came just six days after Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Transport, and Public Works, Kipchumba Murkomen, visited Mandera as part of the government’s “Jukwaa La Usalama” (Security Forum) outreach program.
Speaking during a public address on September 22, Murkomen had assured Mandera residents that their safety was a top priority for the national government.
“I want to assure students, teachers, and local residents that their safety is guaranteed,” said Murkomen. “We will not allow the ongoing conflict in Somalia to spill over into our country — not into your homes, your schools, or your fields.”
However, the shooting incident has raised concerns about the effectiveness of those assurances, with locals questioning whether enough is being done to shield the region from cross-border violence.
Response from Local Authorities
Mandera County Police Commander Robinson Ndiwa confirmed the incident, stating that investigations are underway to determine the precise source of the bullet.
“Preliminary reports indicate that the bullet which injured the elderly woman originated from fighting on the Somali side of the border,” said Ndiwa. “She was quickly evacuated to Mandera Referral Hospital, where she underwent a successful surgery to remove the bullet and is now in stable condition.”
Local authorities, including Governor Omar Mohamed of Barwaqo, have called for urgent government intervention to bolster security in border towns and protect civilians from the spillover effects of foreign conflicts.
Previous Cross-Border Concerns
This is not the first time Mandera residents have been affected by instability in neighboring Somalia. Just last month, thousands of Somali refugees fleeing the Gedo conflict sought temporary shelter in three public primary schools in Mandera.
Their presence sparked concern among local parents and education stakeholders, who feared that learning could be disrupted as schools prepared to reopen for the third term of the academic year.
While the refugees later returned voluntarily to Somalia, the Kenyan government firmly denied local claims that armed Jubaland forces had crossed into Mandera territory.
The Kenya-Somalia border region has long been a flashpoint for conflict, smuggling, and militant activity, and while the Kenyan government continues to deploy security forces to the area, many residents remain skeptical of its ability to prevent future incidents.
As of now, the Mandera County administration is urging the national government to increase surveillance and defense measures, including the possible deployment of additional security personnel to protect civilians living within range of the volatile border.