Roadside blast kills 3, injure 2 in NE Kenya

Nicodemus Ndalana, northeastern regional commissioner, said the incident happened when a county government ambulance which was rushing patients to hospital ran over an improvised explosive device.

Ndalana said the victims including a driver and an elderly mother and her son were killed on the spot while en route to Hulugho from Sangailu ward.

"Three people were killed after an ambulance ran over IED in Garissa as patients were being rushed to hospital," said Ndalana.

Locals said immediately after the attack suspected al-Shabab militant sprayed the vehicle with gunshots, two others were left critically injured.

Kenya Defense Forces have airlifted the injured ones to their camp in Sangailu. The area is near the expansive Boni forest that the government said is a safe haven for the militants.

Garissa Governor Ali Korane said he was deeply saddened by the heinous explosive attack that killed the three people traveling in an ambulance from Sangailu to Hulugho, Garissa County.

"Those killed include the driver and a patient. I condemn this heartless attack. Perpetrators of terror in all forms must be defeated," he said in a brief statement.

Garissa County Deputy County secretary Abdirashid Mohamed said it's a dark day for health fraternity and Garissa at large noting that serious concern of insecurity that needs urgent action.

"The UN laws on conflicts and wars clearly stipulate that no one should attack an ambulance, al-Shabab menace have no respect for humanity. It's time we act collectively to fight this," he said.

There has been heightened security around the country with security agencies at a state of alert amid the reports that al-Shabab might be planning attacks against Kenya in unspecified locations.

The police have also stepped up security around vital installations likely to be targets of attacks by al-Shabab who have scaled up attacks on Kenya.