Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed to continue the fight against Al-Shabaab saying that the nation will not be cowed by terrorists.
Kenya to continue fight against Al Shabaab
Kenyatta addressed the country following an Al-Shabaab attack on an African Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom) base that left an unknown number of Kenyan soldiers dead on Friday.
‘‘Al Shabaab aims to destroy the precious freedoms we have fought so hard to win. We will not know peace so long as this threat of terror exists in our region. We, therefore, today, once again, reaffirm our resolve to stand with the international community to free Somalia from the oppression of terrorist groups,’‘ Kenyatta said.
We are determined and committed to pursuing those criminals who perpetrated this act and ensure that they shall pay heavily for their crime.— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) January 19, 2016
According to Kenya’s ministry of defence, the soldiers were attacked by the insurgent group using vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, commandeered by suicide bombers.
Soon after, the government embarked on a search, rescue and recovery operation.
This is said to be the worst attack on Kenyan soldiers since they crossed into Somalia in 2011 in the fight against the extremist group.
‘‘We are unbowed. As I speak to you today, our defence forces are conducting intense search, rescue and recovery operations, to make sure we bring home our fallen and our injured heroes.That has been and remains our key priority,’‘ Kenyatta said.
‘‘Our soldiers did not die in vain. We have over the years relieved millions of citizens of the Federal Republic of Somalia from the pitiless oppression of terror. Our efforts, together with those of other AMISOM peacekeepers, who also lost their lives, have enabled normal government operations to return in Somalia. We have all together contributed vitally to global peace and security,’‘ Kenyatta added.
Some of the soldiers who survived the attack have already been evacuated from Somali to the Kenyan capital.
Evacuated KDF soldiers were yesterday received by CDF #Mwathethe & CS #Omamo at Wilson #KDFOurHeroes #IStandWithKDF pic.twitter.com/7AGp95cjDt— InteriorCNG Ministry (@InteriorKE) January 19, 2016
Fallen KDF heroes received at Wilson Airport by CS #Omamo and CDF #Mwathethe #IStandWithKDF #KDFOurHeroes pic.twitter.com/91aaw7I162— InteriorCNG Ministry (@InteriorKE) January 18, 2016
Four bodies were also repatriated to Nairobi :http://www.africanews.com/2016/01/19/al-shabaab-attack-bodies-of-four-kenyan-soldiers-repatriated/ on Tuesday.