Kenya Special Forces: For only a select breed of men

In the cloudy skies above the small town of Gilgil in Nakuru County, a military helicopter hovers 34 feet above the ground. In a split second, seven commandos with faces covered by balaclavas and armed with SCARs — one of the most advanced rifles — rappel from the aircraft, then take cover in the nearby bushes. Safely on the ground, the soldiers proceed to stage a well co-ordinated hostage rescue manoeuvre with unbelievable agility, precision and force.

It is often said that war is not for the faint-hearted. But there is a special kind of war that only special men can undertake. Meet the Kenya Special Forces, the squad that was the first to land in Kismayu to secure the beachhead for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in Somalia. Their motto, “Only for the special breed of men,” says a lot about them.

For a military that is traditionally secretive — few Kenyans even know about the existence of the Special Forces — it was a pleasant surprise when Lifestyle got the chance to visit their training base near Gilgil.

According to a senior Special Forces officer who we cannot identify for security reasons, the covert operation in Kismayu in September 2012 was conducted under the cover of darkness, defying the prevailing harsh weather conditions of strong winds and high tides. Dripping wet, they made it safely onshore and began moving into position.

“Only two hours after landing, the Special Forces took control of Kismayu University and the old airport until ground troops arrived,” he told Lifestyle.

His counterpart added: “It was quiet. Our hearts were pumping loud, clear and fast, and we could almost feel our hair grow.”

Fewer than 50 young and agile elite soldiers entered Kismayu from the Indian Ocean. Intelligence gathered earlier indicated that Al Shabaab militants manning the port had fixed their attention on the advancing KDF ground troops and, as it turned out, the tactic worked.

“This information easily helped in capturing Kismayu University and the adjacent Kismayu Old Airport, the sea port and the new Kismayu Airport without firing a single shot,” said the soldier.

By midnight, he explained, the Forces had taken control of the port city before the main KDF force joined them from the hinterland the following day.

The Special Forces unit is expected to execute its mission with speed and precision after being supplied with a 40kg patrol bag containing night vision goggles, a medical kit, clothing and an emergency blanket to protect them from fire or chemicals, and dry rations to last seven days.

The training the elite soldiers undergo is tough, and only the strongest make it. KDF cannot state the exact number of men it has in the Special Forces, but it emphasises they are the best of the best.

NEW FORCES

Together with the Rangers Strike Force, the Special Forces were the newest units whose existence became public after Operation Linda Nchi started in October 2011 when Kenya entered Somalia.

Even then, journalists were not allowed to publish their photographs — despite being so photogenic with their sunglasses and sophisticated weapons.

This is because of the sensitive nature of the operations they are often assigned such as going behind enemy lines on reconnaissance missions and collecting information to be relayed back before the operation starts. It may also be a security risk to recognise the lean, young man sipping his drink at a restaurant in town as one of Kenya’s best trained soldiers.

Part of the Special Forces was deployed during the Westgate siege last September 21 alongside regular KDF troops to flush out the terrorists. Though the idea of establishing an elite force within the military was first mooted in 1996, it took 14 years to turn that dream into a reality.

“It is the transformation in warfare that necessitated the creation of a special force within the military,” an insider told Lifestyle. Any special operation undertaken by the elite squad is based on intelligence gathered and involves meticulous planning. But the plan must also be as simple as possible to allow for speedy execution.

Even though soldiers participating in such operations are briefed so they understand the objective of the mission, intricate details of such operations remain top secret.

Special Forces often have to parachute or rappel from helicopters. The jumps, according to a team member who explained to Lifestyle as the training went on, include the clean fatigue, static jumps and the military free fall. In the clean fatigue, the operative said, they jump with a 40kg knapsack packed with items that can allow them to survive for up to 14 days.

“Once on the ground, the soldier is expected to fold the parachute in the shortest time possible, but only after arming himself,” he said.

Other special forces units admired by the KDF are the US Army Rangers and the Green Berets (US Special Forces).Kenyan Special Forces commandos pride themselves in being among the best-equipped soldiers in the world today.

It is said they are the only ones in Africa privileged to use the FN Herstal SCAR-CAL rifle manufactured in Belgium. Other units known to carry the SCAR rifle include the US Navy SEALS, US Marines, and the German Federal Police counter-terrorism unit.

The Kenyan Special Forces also carry M4 rifles designed for combat at close quarters. Glock 30 automatic pistols are strapped to their thighs in sturdy water-resistant holsters. The pistol has two magazines each carrying 20 bullets.

In addition to the sophisticated weapons and the quality training, Special Forces commandos enjoy privileges like better pay as well as respect from their peers. The squad also undergoes specialised training in other countries, mainly Israel and the United States.

According to one team member, the training is regular to keep the soldiers abreast of the latest technology. Like all soldiers, Special Forces candidates begin their career with nine weeks of boot camp.

Upon completion of basic combat training, they undergo individual training. The candidates also attend infantry school to learn to use small arms, anti-armour, and weapons like howitzers and heavy mortars.

Basic combat training lasts nine weeks, advanced individual training lasts four weeks, and airborne training lasts three weeks. Nearly all of them have had an opportunity to train overseas.

Joining the Special Forces is voluntary, but it is only open to soldiers below 27 years who have completed secondary education with a mean score of C+ and above.

Younger soldiers are best suited for the job since they easily learn the ropes as well as act swiftly. The squad is picked from those already in the Kenya Army, the Air Force and the Navy.

All the women soldiers who have tried their luck in Special Forces have dropped out after failing to withstand the rigorous training.

In addition to the weapons and hand-to-hand combat skills, commandos are trained to parachute from planes at 800 feet in both day and night, using night vision goggles with little or no assistance.

“Among the tough exercises that these elite soldiers undergo is dropping from a 34-foot tower,” a squad member said.

Only 25 per cent of those who volunteer to join the Special Forces graduate after two years of training.