Tension is rising at the Kenya-Ethiopia border after gunmen shot and killed seven people and torched a lorry they were using.
Two other people were injured in the attack that happened on Monday night in Forole area, police said.
Eastern regional police commander Charles Naibei said they are yet to establish the motive.
He said the victims were transporting food from the border town to other parts of the country when they were ambushed.
The attackers shot at the lorry before setting it on fire.
Former treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatanni condemned the incident and blamed a militia from Ethiopia for the attack.
“The sad incident where suspected militia from a neighboring country ambushed a truck near Forole of Marsabit county, killing 7 persons and burning the truck needs urgent response.
We appeal to CS Interior to deploy more security personnel to protect these border community,” he said.
The area is near the main border and is usually infiltrated by gangs from Ethiopia.
It is the second such attack in two weeks which have so far claimed six lives including that of a policeman.
On August 1, a police officer was killed and three others including a civilian sustained serious injuries when an unknown number of gunmen launched an attack at a checkpoint in the Sessi area of Moyale town, Marsabit County.
Officials said the incident happened at the roadblock leading to the main Kenya-Ethiopia border.
A civilian woman believed to be a revenue clerk with the county government, was also critically wounded in the attack, which was carried out by suspects armed with grenades and assault rifles.
The attackers arrived on board a motorcycle and opened fire at the multi-agency team that was manning the roadblock leading to Ethiopian border.
Police and witnesses said the attackers also lobbed two grenades at the team but they did not detonate.
The motive of the attack is yet to be known, police said.
Police suspect the attackers could be smugglers or terrorists who are trying to find a footing in the area.
The Moyale-Marsabit highway is one of the main routes used by human and drug smugglers.
The route, according to police is also a haven for terrorists trying to reach Isiolo and Nairobi.
The roadblocks mounted on the route have helped tame many crimes including terrorism.
