By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
April 22, 2026 - Two children were injured on Tuesday after stepping on an explosive device in Kotile location, Ijara Sub-County of Garissa County, in an incident that has raised fresh concerns over the presence of dangerous devices in the area.
Adhan Abdi Hassan, 16, and Abdiaziz Mohamed Ali, 12, were herding goats when an unidentified device exploded near them at around 4 p.m. Adhan, a Grade 10 student at Garissa High School, is an orphan currently supported under the Elimu sponsorship programme. In pastoralist communities, it is common for children to tend livestock during school holidays.
Mohamed Bashir, a relative of one of the boys, said they heard a loud explosion while returning from evening prayers but initially dismissed it.
“We were later informed that it involved these children, and we rushed to the area. We found them bleeding profusely and took them to a nearby health facility, where they received first aid,” he said.
According to Bashir, the boys sustained multiple injuries. Adhan lost several toes on his left foot and suffered additional injuries across his body, likely caused by the blast impact.
The 12-year-old, a Grade 4 pupil at Kotile Primary School, also sustained injuries, suggesting he was some distance away when the device exploded.
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“Police have visited the scene, and we provided all the information on how it happened. We do not know how the device got there or its origin,” Bashir added.
The incident has heightened concerns among residents over the possible presence of unexploded devices in the area. Questions have also been raised about whether the device was linked to government security operations or militant groups.
The area, located near Boni Forest, is subject to heightened security surveillance, with Special Forces frequently conducting patrols.
The two boys were initially taken to Garissa Referral Hospital before being transferred to Nairobi for specialised treatment. Local security sources said the transfer to Nairobi West Hospital was ordered by senior officials.