Kenya unbowed by attack, will continue to fight Al-Shabaab, Uhuru says

What you need to know:

  • President Kenyatta called Al-Shabaab “enemies of humanity who are out to destroy freedoms that we have fought to win”.
  • He reiterated the country’s commitment to the fight against terrorism, promising that the slain soldiers “did not die in vain”.
  • The President has been criticised by opposition leader Raila Odinga for not flying to Nairobi to receive the bodies of the slain soldiers as they arrived in Nairobi on Monday.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed to continue the war against Al-Shabaab in Somalia, saying Kenya remains “unbowed” and “will continue to stand with the international community to free Somalia from oppression by terror groups”.

He addressed the nation on Tuesday afternoon following the Al-Shabaab attack on an Amisom base in Somalia over the weekend that killed an unknown number of Kenyan soldiers.

“This war (on terror) demands unity as a nation. We are grateful to our armed forces who are always ready to do duty to fight for our freedoms,” he said, speaking from Mombasa, where he is on a tour of infrastructure projects.

'ENEMIES OF HUMANITY'

President Kenyatta called Al-Shabaab “enemies of humanity who are out to destroy freedoms that we have fought to win” and reiterated the country’s commitment to the fight against terrorism, promising that the slain soldiers “did not die in vain”.

He announced that the soldiers who died in the line of duty would be buried according to military traditions in ceremonies conducted by the Kenya Defence Forces and the Ministry of Defence.

The President has been criticised by opposition leader Raila Odinga for not flying to Nairobi to receive the bodies of the slain soldiers as they arrived in Nairobi on Monday.

The first four bodies arrived on Monday night at Wilson Airport and were received by Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Samson Mwathethe.