KDF to stay put in Somalia, says President Kenyatta

Wednesday, October 02, 2013

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has said that the Kenya Defence Forces soldiers still in Somalia will not return until order is restored to the war-torn country.

President Kenyatta said this at an interdenominational prayer function organised in commemoration of the victims of the Westgate shopping mall attack that claimed over 60 lives with a further 175 being injured in the September 21 attack.

“We will stay there until they bring order to their own nation,” Kenyatta said adding that it was because the al-Shabaab insurgents started overstepping into Kenya that KDF were sent in to put an end to the menace.

President Kenyatta thanked the nation and all who came out to help the victims and those affected by the attack and urged Kenyans to be mindful of each other and take responsibility for ensuring security in the country.

“We have resisted them before, and we shall resist them now,” Kenyatta said of the al-Shabaab militia. Deputy President William Ruto who also attended the function reiterated the president’s sentiments saying that the attack was barbaric, primitive and backward.

Ruto also said that the government will work to secure the country to prevent an attack of that scale to be repeated.

“Our number one priority is to protect the people of Kenya,” Ruto said adding that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Former Prime Minister who was also at the prayer session said that the manner in which intelligence is collected and acted on needs to change. Raila further said that the foreigners looking to own property in Kenya need to be vetted thoroughly.

“We have to change the way we secure our borders,” Raila said. He added that the time for the country to unite is now.

“We have come to make a statement that in an issue like this, there is no government or opposition,” Raila added saying that the priority at the moment is to bring the culprits of the mall attack to book before establishing who was culpable.

Nairobi governor Dr Evans Kidero who also addressed those in attendance said that Kenyans will remain united despite the attack.

“The Kenyan spirit of unity will never be broken. We will move forward undeterred,” Kidero said. Chief Justice Willy Mutunga prayed for unity among Kenyans stating that “We are not one. I pray that we be one.”

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