KOT revives debate on KDF presence in Somalia after al Shabaab kills soldiers

Saturday January 16, 2016

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers, who are part of the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), march to their armoured vehicles before an area patrol on the outskirts of the controlled area of the old airport in the coastal town of Kismayu in southern Somalia November 12, 2015. Photo/REUTERS

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KDF is yet to confirm the number of soldiers killed in an attack in Somalia but the public is voicing support via Twitter hash tag #63isNotJustaNumber.

Some Kenyans on Twitter have criticised the state for only honouring soldiers after they die and said a strategy for them to withdraw from Somalia should be laid out.

Al Shabaab, which is aligned with al Qaeda, said it took over an African Union base with Kenyan soldiers, about 550 km (340 miles) west of Mogadishu after a suicide bomber from the group rammed its gates.

It said it killed 61 Kenyan soldiers serving as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia, while other soldiers escaped. The claim could not be independently verified, Reuters reported.

Some social media users asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to have the soldiers return to Kenya while others said Kenya should never surrender to the group that has been behind several attacks.

In September 2013, at least 65 people were killed in a siege at the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi while on April 2, 2015, 147 people were killed and at least 79 injured in a massacre at Garissa University College.

"Those 63 patriots would surely want us to ask the tough questions about war in Somalia," Martin Kulundu wrote on Saturday.

After the Garissa attack, several leaders including Cord's Raila Odinga asked Uhuru to withdraw the troops saying he "arrogantly" ignored foreign governments' warning of terror attacks.

In November 2015, the Somali Parliament overwhelmingly voted for a motion that compels the Kenya government to withdraw its forces from Somalia.

The MPs raised concerns concerning the latest report accusing Kenya's military of illegal involvement in the sugar and charcoal trade and Kenya’s ongoing plans to build a 440-mile wall along its border with Somalia.

Twitter user Charles Dieny wrote: "The war in Somalia has made some few greedy people billionaires as innocent lives of our soldiers", while another noted the price of freedom is high but surrendering is not an option.

George Mule said: "It is never too late to turn and flee like cowards".

Others asked Uhuru to stop using "some phrases and act accordingly"; in a condolence message on Friday, Uhuru said Kenya will not be "cowed by cowards".

"The president should change from using the words 'we won't be intimidated' every time we lose our soldiers," said Maureen Ochieng.

Uhuru said the attack on Kenyan soldiers will not bring to an end the mission for peace and stability in Somalia.

“I take this opportunity to express mine and the country’s deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of the fallen. I stand with you," he said in a statement.

A post via Twitter handle @KinyanBoy said Chief Justice Willy Mutunga "revealed how KDF stay in Somalia is part of the bigger racket running and holding Kenyans hostage".

Mutunga termed Kenya a "bandit economy" that he said is run by mafia-style cartels of political chiefs and corrupt business people.

He said Kenya’s army fighting militants in Somalia protects traders smuggling goods into Kenya through Kismayu port. He cited a UN report and Journalists for Justice. The army denies the accusations.

Al Shabaab fighters attacked a remote Somali army base and entered a nearby town close to the border with Kenya, saying they had killed dozens of soldiers who are part of the African Union Mission in Somalia.

Somali and Kenyan military officials said the fighters had seized the Somali army base near the town of Ceel Cadde, about 550 km (340 miles) west of Mogadishu in a region near Kenya's border.

The spokesman for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) said al Shabaab fighters overran the Somali army base and Amisom had counter-attacked.

"The number of casualties on both sides is unknown," Colonel David Obonyo, KDF spokesman, said in a statement on Friday.

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