How Al Shabaab attack on KDF happened

Details have now emerged on how Al Shabaab militants orchestrated the 5:30 AM attack on two camps in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) base camp at El Adde in Somalia on Friday.

According to Chief of Defence Forces General Samson Mwathethe, vehicles that had been commandeered by suicide bombers were driven into the camp, followed by a number of suicide attacks.

“We resisted. We have casualties but they too have casualties,” said General Mwathethe.

The Kenya Defence Forces camp had a company of not more than 120 soldiers of which an unknown number was killed in the attack, others injured while others are missing.

Earlier, Al Shabaab said that it had captured some KDF soldiers during the attack on Friday.

General Mwathethe while speaking to journalists on Sunday said they embarked on a search, rescue and recovery operation immediately after the attack but noted that it was a delicate operation as they have information that the soldiers who were taken hostage are being used as human shields.

He noted that they are still engaging the terrorists and asked the public not to divulge information that may jeorpardise operational security.

At the same time, Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo said the operation area remains dangerous and fluid and the soldiers remain at risk.

“This attack will not go unanswered. We have responded and engaged the enemy and remain in pursuit of them. The attack, though extremely painful, will not dampen the determination of our solders. On the contrary, it serves to strengthen our resolve, we are proud of our solders,” said the CS.

Ms Omamo was speaking after receiving survivors of the attack at Wilson Airport in Nairobi.

Four survivors arrived in Nairobi at about noon on Sunday with CS Raychelle Omamo saying that the families of the soldiers who died or were injured would be notified individually.

Omamo added that support facilities for the families of the fallen soldiers and those who were injured have been set up at KDF barracks in Eldoret, Gilgil and Nairobi.