Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel on patrol in Wajir County repelled an attack by suspected al-Shabaab militants in the Konton area near the Kenya-Somalia border.
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 22, 2026 evening when KDF personnel based at Konton Camp encountered an unknown number of suspected al-Shabaab militants while conducting a mobile patrol.
The suspected militants opened fire on the soldiers, who responded immediately and engaged the attackers.
The KDF personnel successfully repulsed the attackers, forcing them to retreat towards their hideouts in the direction of the Somalia border.
All the soldiers involved in the patrol were accounted for, with no casualties reported.
Security officers remained on high alert in the area following the incident as efforts continued to establish the identity and number of the attackers and assess any possible damage.
The encounter comes amid continued security concerns along Kenya’s northern border, where security agencies have stepped up patrols and surveillance to deter cross-border attacks by suspected Al-Shabaab militants.
Police and military officers are expected to maintain heightened vigilance in the area as security operations continue.
The incident is the latest of attacks targeting security agents and installations in the region. Officials say the security operations in the area have been intensified to deter further attacks.
The probing attacks have been on the rise in the past months amid fears there are plans for largescale attack on the security installations.
On July 28, six Kenyan security officers, including five members of the elite Special Operations Group (SOG) and a National Police Reservist (NPR), were killed after their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) in Mandera County before coming under attack from suspected al-Shabaab militants.
The incident occurred in the El-Raamo area of Kutulo, along the Alungu Main Supply Route (MSR), near the Kenya-Somalia border, police said.
According to security sources, the IED had allegedly been planted on July 21, with the militants lying in wait for a security patrol before launching the coordinated ambush.
The explosion was followed by a fierce exchange of gunfire between the Special Operations Group officers and the attackers. Five SOG officers and one National Police Reservist were killed during the attack.
The attack underscores the persistent threat posed by al-Shabaab militants operating along Kenya’s porous border with Somalia despite sustained counterterrorism operations by Kenyan security forces.
The area has witnessed repeated cross-border incursions targeting security personnel, communication infrastructure and public transport in recent years.
Kenya deployed the Kenya Defence Forces into Somalia under Operation Linda Nchi on October 14, 2011, following a series of cross-border attacks and kidnappings that threatened the country’s security and tourism sector.
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