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Police patrols have been increased and security beefed-up in Wajir town following Wednesday's (May 30th) grenade attack at a popular fast food restaurant that left one dead and four others wounded, police told Sabahi.

The explosion occurred at around 7:30 pm, during the evening rush at the Star restaurant, when attackers threw a grenade through a cafe window.

Ruth Mueni, who owns the restaurant and whose husband and child were among those injured, told Sabahi she was serving a customer in an adjacent store the family runs, when the explosion happened. After the blast, a crowd of people rushed to the scene to help take the injured to the hospital in taxis. But police arrived soon thereafter, escorting the victims and sealing off the scene, she said.

Wajir District Hospital Medical Officer of Health Mohammed Hussein Abdikadir told Sabahi that the wounded victims were airlifted to Nairobi's Kenyatta National Hospital with the government assistance on Friday morning. He said the three adult victims have sustained multiple injuries and are still in serious condition. The injured child has sustained a broken leg but is out of danger, he said.

Police said the victim who died was a construction worker who came from the Mwingi District in Eastern Province just ten days prior to the attack in search of work. His name will not be released until his next of kin is located and notified.

Kenyan authorities have blamed al-Shabaab for the attack and are following several leads.

"The attack bears the hallmark of al-Shabaab. The militants are the ones who target civilians including children. It is a cowardly act but we are doing everything possible to bring to book those behind it," Officer Commanding Wajir Police Division James Mutungi told Sabahi on Thursday.

Mutungi said two of the victims from Wednesday's explosion have provided police with information and they are now pursing two suspects.

The latest attack is the second in less than four days targeting public venues around Wajir.

Last Saturday evening, a grenade was thrown in the Dubai Hotel and Lodging while people were dining in the hotel's restaurant. Three people were injured in that attack and later released from the hospital, Mutungi said. He said the two incidents are 500 meters apart.

Mutungi said police presence around town has been increased, but authorities have decided not to issue a curfew as to not further hurt economic activities. He urged the public to continue to work with security personnel and report any suspicious activity.

"In the previous grenade and landmine attacks in Wajir, residents have helped us with crucial information that led to arrests and we have call on them again to help us weed out the al-Shabaab elements in the community," Mutungi said.

He said the police is engaging the community through the Wajir Community Policing Committee to identify criminal elements. The committee comprises of elders, youths, and government authorities, religious and political leaders in Wajir.

Sheikh Abdiwahab Mursal, the secretary general of Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya Wajir Branch, condemned the grenade attack and asked residents to collaborate with the police to stop the violence.

"This is the second attack in a week. This is the time peace loving residents [should] help the police to nub the culprits," Mursal said. "Those who are harbouring them should know that such elements have no permanent friends."

He said those resorting to violence for whatever causes are sowing seeds of discord among the communities in Wajir and will fail.

Wajir East District Commissioner Kennedy Nyaiyo urged residents to continue to be vigilant during the June 1st Madaraka Day holiday weekend.

Nyaiyo said the attacks are "the works of the weakened al-Shabaab [who] seek attention by targeting civilians". He vowed the criminals will not be on the run for long.