NIAROBI, Kenya — Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta has said at least nine Kenyan soldiers had been killed in an explosion in Dhobley town near the border with Somalia.
Kenyatta said he was appalled and saddened to learn deaths of Kenyan soldiers following huge bomb explosion targeted KDF vehicle near border town.
He said Kenya had lost nine young patriots to a cowardly terrorist attack in Somalia.
“These men gave their lives for their country, and for peace; we must, and we will, honour their service, their sacrifice and their velour”, he said.
“We owe victory to the fallen. You may be sure we will win, for we have right and might on our side”, Kenyatta said.
Kenyatta says Kenyan soldiers would continue African Union operations until the armed group of Al Shabaab are defeated, and the people of Somalia are safe once more. .
He added: “May God rests the souls of our warriors, and may he grant their families the courage to bear this loss.”
Kenyan troops are part of an African Union force bolstering Somalia’s weak government against an insurgency by the Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabab.
Somali-based group of Al Shabaab has claimed the responsibility for the explosion, saying it killed at least Kenyan Defense Forces.
Al-Shabab has carried out numerous attacks on Kenya since October 2011, saying it is retribution for Kenya sending troops to fight the militants in Somalia.
The group also claimed to have carried out killing of four non-Muslims working at a quarry in Mandera County in northern Kenya.
Reporting by Abdirisak Mohamud Tuuryare from Mogadishu, Somalia
