2 police officers, 1 civilian dead in Kenya bomb blast near Mandera police station

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - A bomb blast at a food kiosk in Mandera town, northern Kenya, claimed the lives of three people on Monday.

Among the casualties confirmed were two police officers and a female civilian.

"I condemn in the strongest terms, today's cowardly and heinous terrorist attack at a hotel in Mandera town," Mohamed Adan Khalif, the governor of Mandera County who confirmed the deaths, said in a statement.

"My heartfelt condolences and prayers to the victims and their families affected by this tragic incident. I equally wish the victims who sustained injuries a quick recovery as they receive treatment," he added.

Police have said that the incident, which took place near Mandera police station, is suspected to be an attack carried out by the al-Shabaab terrorist group. The explosion occurred in Mandera town, approximately 1,025 kilometers (637 miles) northeast of Nairobi.

The area has in the near past witnessed similar attacks, often attributed to the al-Shabaab terrorist group.

The terrorist group frequently targets law enforcement officers in the area, taking advantage of the porous border between Kenya and Somalia to carry out their assaults.

The motive behind al-Shabaab's relentless assaults on Kenya stems from Kenya's decision to deploy troops to Somalia in October 2011 in response to a series of kidnappings and security threats along the border region.

Kenya's involvement in the fight against terrorism in Somalia has made it a prime target for retaliatory attacks by al-Shabaab operatives.

The deadliest attack on Kenyan soil by al-Shabaab terrorists occurred at Garissa University College on April 2, 2015, where gunmen stormed the campus, resulting in the loss of over 140 students and injuring many others.