Solemn mass for fallen KDF soldiers at airport as bodies arrive

Soldiers at Wilson Airport carry the four bodies soon after being offloaded from a Kenya Air Force plane on January 18, 2016.
PHOTO |EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Kenya Army personnel mounted a meticulous parade to receive the first four bodies transported by a Kenya Air Force plane that landed at Wilson Airport at 10pm.

  • Monday’s parade also entailed a brief inter-faith service by military clergy.

Draped with the national flag, caskets containing the bodies of Kenyan soldiers killed in Somalia by Al-Shabaab terrorists on Friday arrived in Nairobi on Monday night.

Kenya Army personnel mounted a meticulous parade to receive the first four bodies transported by a Kenya Air Force plane that landed at Wilson Airport at 10pm.

Every coffin was lowered from the plane by a six-man guard of honour, followed by a march past mounted by two files of soldiers.

Members of the parade guard lowered their rifles in respect and honour of their colleagues who died in active combat.

Chief of Defence Forces Samson Mwathethe and Service commanders Lt-Gen Leonard Ngondi (Kenya Army) and Maj-Gen Samuel Thuita (Air Force) were at the airport to receive the four bodies.

DELICATE OPERATION

The three generals stood at attention and saluted as the parade filed past them.

Al-Shabaab terrorists invaded a Kenya Defence Force base at El-Adde, in Gedo on Friday, resulting in casualties on both sides.

Monday’s parade also entailed a brief inter-faith service by military clergy.

They prayed for the nation, families and friends of the fallen soldiers.

The solemn mass was led by Lt-Col (Fr) George Maingi, Maj (Rev) Habil Nakhumwa and Maj (Imam) Abdi Noor.

“Comfort them and their families. Send angels of protection, love and comfort to all officers and service members of the Kenya Defence Forces still at war. Bring them home safely and comfort their families too,” Lt-Col Maingi prayed for the 4,000 KDF personnel still in Somalia.

The four bodies were then taken away in military ambulances.

Going by military traditions, the soldiers’ burials will be accorded highest honours.

When a soldier dies in combat, his or her casket is lowered into the grave by soldiers of equal rank and a seven-man armed guard fires three volleys, signifying a 21-gun salute.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo also was at the airport to receive remains of the soldiers.

The minister said a delicate operation was going on in Somalia to find the missing soldiers and recover the bodies. 

Several other bodies have been received at Moi Air Base, the headquarters of Kenya Air Force in Eastleigh, Nairobi.

“We appreciate the support from Kenyans and urge them to be patient. The situation is complex but we are handling it,” the cabinet secretary told journalists.

Nearly 30 soldiers who survived the Al-Shabaab attack have been airlifted to Nairobi.

Fresh tactical units of the Kenya Defence Forces have been deployed at El-Adde and are conducting aerial and ground operations, the minister added.

“The search, rescue and operation is ongoing. This morning another group of heroes have returned. They have no physical injuries but are exhausted because of what they went through,” Ms Omamo said.

She spoke hours earlier at the airport before the first batch of bodies arrived.