Two people were on Friday morning killed by Al-Shabaab gunmen after the bus they were travelling in was ambushed in Garissa County.
The militants flagged down the bus at Handaro, which is between Ijara and Sangailu towns and started profiling the passengers who were in the bus that is owned by Kilas Company.
Witnesses said about seven terrorists attacked the bus while armed with AK 47 rifles.
One of the witnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity said one of the attackers emerged from a thicket while armed and directed the bus driver to stop.
The militants then ordered everyone to alight from the vehicle and produce their IDs and picked out three non-locals.
The three non-locals were asked to recite the Muslim Shahada and the seven verses of Suratul Fatiha.
“There were three non-locals who were ordered to recite the Shahada. One had lived with locals all his life so he was able to read and was freed,” said the witness.
The two others, the bus mechanic and a passenger who was a casual labourer in Masalani town, failed to recite and the Al-Shabaab militants tied their hands before they slaughtered them.
Northeastern regional coordinator Mohamed Birik said the militants managed to escape before security officers arrived at the scene.
Mr Birik said investigation into the incident has been launched and that the security team is in pursuit of the suspects behind the attack.
“We have embarked on a ground and aerial operation to comb the forest in order to locate and arrest the militants. We have lost two innocent lives of Kenyans. I want to assure you of security in this area,” the regional coordinator said.
#bizarre