Al-Shabaab militants on Monday attacked Kenya Police officers at a small town of Dawaduba in Fino location, Mandera County at the eve of Idd-ul-fitr.
Heavy fighting was reported with police waging a spirited fight to foil an attack that would have after all been the worst against Kenyan authorities in the recent past.
Voice of America journalist Harun Maruf said casualties were reported on either side. A Kenyan police officer was confirmed dead while several militants are also said to have died.
"Reports of clash between Kenya police and Al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Dawaduba in Mandera county on Monday; casualties have been reported on both sides," Maruf tweeted.
Apparently, the attack comes just a week after the militants were crashed by Kenya Defense Forces troops at Afmadow town across the border, when they attempted to run over a military base.
"Suspected Al-Shabaab militants fired on Kenya military base in Afmadow, Somalia, in the early hours of Thursday. Troops reportedly responded with heavy fire, forcing militants to retreat. Casualties not known," it was reported.
For months now, Mandera has enjoyed relative peace. It's only in April this year that the militants abducted two Cuban doctors working in Mandera County.
While they have been located in Gedo region, the government has denied any ongoing negotiations to have them released on ransom. The militants had reportedly asked for Sh150 million.
Also, the relationship between and Somalia has dwindled in the recent weeks, and the attack could yet again provoke Nairobi. Until now, the government is yet to confirm the attack.