Four Al-Shabaab militants have been killed in a police raid in Garissa County, with officers recovering a significant weapons cache during the operation.
The National Police Service's elite Special Operations Group (SOG) conducted the intelligence-led raid on Monday in the Najo and Guracho areas of the northeastern county, according to an official statement.
"In a meticulously planned, intelligence-led operation, the National Police Service's elite Special Operations Group (SOG) on Monday, 2nd June 2025 raided terrorist hideouts in the Najo and Guracho areas of Garissa County," the police said in a social media post.
A fierce gun battle ensued when officers stormed the militants' hideout, resulting in the deaths of four suspected terrorists.
"Upon storming the den, a fierce exchange of fire ensued, overwhelming the Al-Shabaab terrorists," the statement continued.
Police recovered four AK-47 assault rifles, a PKM machine gun, assorted ammunition, and communication radios during the operation.
"This successful operation marks yet another major victory in a series of well-coordinated efforts that continue to cripple Al-Shabaab's activities," the police added.
The Garissa region has long been considered a breeding ground for terrorist activities, with militants frequently crossing from Somalia through the porous border before launching attacks that have disrupted operations across urban areas in northeastern Kenya.
The latest raid comes more than a decade after Kenya launched Operation Linda Nchi in October 2011, a military intervention designed to combat Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia.
The operation was prompted by a series of cross-border attacks and kidnappings that threatened Kenya's security and tourism sector.
The mission's primary objective was to establish a buffer zone by removing Al-Shabaab from key strongholds including Kismayo and Afmadow, thereby weakening the group's operational capacity near the Kenyan border.
In February 2012, the operation was integrated into the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), providing multilateral support and legitimacy through a UN Security Council resolution. Kenyan forces continued their deployment alongside other African peacekeepers as part of regional stabilisation efforts.
Initial military successes included the capture of Kismayo, a crucial logistical and financial hub for Al-Shabaab. However, the intervention also triggered significant retaliation from the militant group.
Al-Shabaab responded with increased attacks inside Kenya, including high-profile incidents such as the 2013 Westgate shopping centre assault in Nairobi and the 2015 Garissa University College massacre that killed 148 people.
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