The pursuit of Al-Shabaab was prompted by a spate of kidnappings of foreigners in northern Kenya
The government on Sunday said it will support families of soldiers killed in Somalia in the war on Al-Shabaab militia, Defence Minister Yusuf Haji has said. Read (Kenyan forces hit Al-Shabaab bases around final Somali bastion)
While speaking during the first anniversary since the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) entered Somalia to pursue the militia group in Nanyuki, Mr Haji said KDF has put Kenya on the global map as it flexed its muscles against her enemy.
“KDF has put Kenya in the history of this world. We decided to protect our people and borders after attacks,” he said.
Also, the Chief of the Defence Forces General Julius Karangi said that the military intervention had surprised sceptics who had prophesied failure on the army.
“We crossed into Somalia at the beginning of rains and captured big territories. By the end of October last year, we surprised many sceptics,” he said.
“We have fought warfronts inch by inch and eventually captured Kismayu on September 20,” he added.
Gen Karangi said Kenya was forced to pursue Al-Shabaab within Somalia after the militia group kidnapped aid workers, tourists and government officials. He said such kidnappings threatened the key tourism sector.
“Our economy was seriously threatened and Kenyans were crying out for help,” he said.
The pursuit of Al-Shabaab was prompted by a spate of kidnappings of foreigners in northern Kenya.
“Our territorial integrity is threatened with serious security threats of terrorism, we cannot allow this to happen at all,” said the then Internal Security Minister George Saitoti.
“It means we are now going to pursue the enemy, who are the Al Shabaab, to wherever they will be, even in their country,” he said as KDF began the pursuit of the militia group.
Last year, Al- Shabaab kidnapped two Spaniards, both logistics officers with the aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF, Doctors Without Borders), who were abducted from Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp.
The militia group also kidnapped a French and a British national at the coastal regions dealing a major blow to the tourism sector.
Recently, KDF managed to capture Kismayu, the stronghold of the Al-Shabaab militia.
KDF, operating under the African Union forces (Amisom) and the Somali National Army (SNA) have tightened control of Kismayu and have occupied the city’s new airport and the Central Police Station.
“Kismayu is finally under control of the Amisom and Somali National Army and the people of Kismayu have received them with cheers,” Department of Defence spokesman, Major Emmanuel Chirchir told Nation.
Amisom Sector II Commander, Brigadier Antony Ngere, said AU and SNA troops had continued to exercise utmost caution to avoid harming civilians.
“The international community and humanitarian agencies have been urged to expedite the provision of much needed humanitarian assistance to the needy population,” he said. Brig Ngere said Amisom troops would ensure safety of employees of the relief agencies.
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