Daadab MP rubbishes calls to withdraw KDF from Somalia

Dadaab MP Mohamed Dahiye is now calling on the government to keep our forces in Somalia instead of withdrawing from the war torn country.

Dahiye, whose constituency borders Somalia from the East, said that withdrawing the soldiers would have a direct impact on security to the border towns.

“We need our soldiers in Somalia for not only our security but also that of Somalia. The advantages of them being there far much outweighs the disadvantages,” Dahiye said.

Speaking in Liboi Town, Dahiye said those calling for the withdrawal of Kenyan troops from Somalia are not fully cognizant of the situation on the ground.

Dahiye, who was reacting to calls made by a section of leaders to have the troops withdrawn, instead urged for the reinforcement of the military camps at the border.

The legislator now says that the militants were taking advantage of the small numbers of reinforced military camps stationed at the lower Juba and the time of change of guard, adding that KDF have been overstretched following the exit of Burundi and Sierra Leone solders.

Dahiye said that it was unfortunate that Kenyan soldiers continue to die in the hands of the Al Shabaab militia groups further urging residents to cooperate with security agents in identifying them.

These calls come after Al Shabaab militants attacked a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) camp in Somalia’s Kulbiyow area at 5:00 am on Friday, January 27.

KDF, through its spokesperson, Lt. Col. Paul Njuguna, said nine Kenyan servicemen were killed and 15 others injured.

In January last year, Al Shabaab attacked and killed more than 50 Kenyan soldiers at El Adde when they overran a KDF camp in what has been termed as one of the worst attacks on Kenyan forces.