The Kenya Defense Forces said they have destroyed some of the key centres of al Shabaab militia in Somalia. Speaking today during the weekly media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairsoffices, Nairobi. Officer in charge of operations and information in KDF Colonel Cyrus Oguna said al Shabaab has been severely weakened. “We received information from the locals that Al Shabaab were assembling at Usingo town and we immediately launched air strikes at the logistics base,” Oguna said. The attack, in which nine technical vehicles, nine lorries and several al Shabaab fighters were killed culminated in the capture of Usingo town. Oguna said the capture of the town was key to the stabilisation of the central sector and a major blow to the al Qaeda-linked insurgents. “We expect to completely weaken Al Shabaab fighters and capture more of their strongholds. This is after destruction of their logistics bases, personnel and equipment," added Oguna.
Usingo town is the conduit for contraband goods and arms on their transit to the interior of the war-torn country and Northern Kenya. The terror group has lost a key source of revenue after ceding control of the town . Oguna however said that they could not forget the plight of local people adding that resources have been channelled to build roads to open up the interior of Somalia and build dams.
On the morale of Kenyan troops, Oguna said that they are happy with their contribution to the history in the making. “This is the first time Kenyan troops have crossed the border to pursue an enemy and every soldier is happy to take part in it,” pointed Oguna. He said there was a blanket amnesty to those in the Al-shabaab ranks who were willing to surrender to KDF and allied forces .
He urged those in Somalia to report to the nearby Transitional Government Forces (TFG) commander and facilitation will be made. Speaking at the same venue, deputy police spokesman Charles Owino said that security has been beefed up in the country. “We have increased surveillance with uniformed officers and undercover detectives to increase vigilance in areas likely to be targeted,” said Owino.
Owino commended owners of business premises for complying with security advisories and called on owners of social places to remain vigil as patrons flock to their premises to watch the continental soccer tournament. He also urged parents to monitor the movements of their children to ensure that they do not get misguided to join or be recruited to illegal sects. “We will offer amnesty to whoever surrenders to authorities,” said Owino adding that the defectors could also report to clerics for assistance.
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