A Kenyan woman was injured after being struck by a stray bullet during a gunfight between two Somali security agencies in Bulla Hawa, near the Kenya-Somalia border in Mandera County. The incident occurred on October 23, 2025, in the Kullun area and has heightened tension in the region amid fears that the violence could spill over into Kenya.
According to local authorities, the woman was hit in the right leg while on the Kenyan side of the border. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was admitted and reported to be in stable condition. The shooting stemmed from a disagreement between the Somali agencies, which escalated into an exchange of gunfire. Kenyan officials have since sought an explanation from their Somali counterparts over the cross-border incident.
This latest episode adds to a growing list of similar occurrences that have endangered the lives of civilians living near the border. The area remains volatile as rival Somali factions continue to clash over control of the strategic Bulla Hawa town, located in Somalia’s Gedo region. The confrontations have raised fears of increased insecurity, possible displacement, and the influx of refugees into Kenya.
The Kenya-Somalia border remains a busy crossing point, with traders and residents from both sides frequently interacting for business and social reasons. However, recurring clashes in Somalia often disrupt daily life and pose safety risks to communities in Mandera.
Just last month, another woman was injured when a stray bullet fell from the sky and struck her in the upper right arm as fighting raged across the border. The bullet, fired from Bulla Hawa, was later surgically removed at the Mandera Referral Hospital. In a separate incident in August 2025, a 44-year-old Kenyan woman lost her life after stepping on an explosive device believed to have originated from the same conflict zone.
Security agencies in Kenya have since intensified patrols along the border to prevent further spillover. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as efforts continue to de-escalate the ongoing conflict between Somali security forces and the Jubaland administration. Despite these efforts, sporadic gunfire continues to be reported a few kilometres from the border crossing, keeping residents on edge.
The continued instability highlights the fragile nature of security along the Kenya-Somalia border and the urgent need for sustained diplomatic engagement to prevent further civilian harm.
