Al Shabaab had a bad day today – KDF spokesperson on base attack

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has refuted claims that the Al Shabaab militants overrun its camp in Somalia’s Kulbiyow area at 5:00 am on Friday, January 27.

Reports had earlier indicated that the Islamist fighters had attacked a KDF base and taken control with details of casualties and injuries remaining scanty.

KDF, however, through its spokesperson, Lt. Col. Paul Njugua, denied the reports saying that it was an attempted attack.

Speaking to Citizen Digital on phone, Col. Njuguna, said the KDF soldiers were quick to act and swiftly repulsed the Al Shabaab militants.

“At about 5:00 am, the enemy (Al Shabaab) attacked the KDF camp but our troops were on high alert and repulsed them. The Al Shabaab had a bad day today,” said Col. Njuguna.

The KDF spokesman says the Al Shabaab fighters were spreading propaganda and distorting information on the attack.

“They were not able to get into the camp and we are still in control of our base.”

The militants had claimed that they had overrun the Kenyan camp killing dozens of soldiers who are in the neighbouring East African country on a mission to help fight the Al Qaeda linked militants.

KDF officers are currently engaged in a heavy operation along the Kenya-Somalia border in what the forces term as pacification of the area following the dawn attack.

Col. Njuguna said that an official communication on casualties, if any, and casualties would be made later once the troops are through with the operation.

“We cannot tell right now how many are injured until we are through with pacifying the area.”

In January last year, Al Shabaab attacked and killed more than 50 Kenyan soldiers in El Adde when they overran a KDF camp in what has been termed as one of the worst attacks on Kenyan forces.