Kenyan police repelled an overnight al-Shabaab attack on a guarded compound housing Chinese road workers in the border town of Elwak.
The assault began around 1 a.m. local time when heavily armed militants stormed the compound near Elwak police station.
Police confirmed all ten Chinese workers were protected during an extended gunfight that echoed through the quiet northeastern town.
Attackers smashed the main gate and perimeter fence, damaging a police vehicle and several construction trucks before retreating.
Border patrol officers were quickly deployed to reinforce guards and secure the compound after the militants withdrew.
Local media reported the fighters likely crossed into Mandera County from Somalia using informal routes along the porous frontier.
Elwak lies in a region long scarred by cross-border violence linked to Kenya’s military presence in Somalia.
Kenya has faced repeated al-Shabaab attacks since deploying troops there in 2011 under the African Union mission.
The group frequently targets border police with ambushes, roadside bombs and raids on isolated security posts.
Garissa, Mandera and Wajir counties remain particularly vulnerable due to remote terrain and weak infrastructure.
Despite increased patrols and surveillance, authorities warn the militant threat remains persistent and lethal.
Roadside improvised explosive devices have killed dozens of Kenyan security officers over the past decade.
