Over 100 terrorists killed by KDF troops in counter operation, says DP William Ruto

The Government yesterday said more than 100 terrorists were killed by Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops deployed after the Mandera bus attack.

Deputy President William Ruto said KDF launched two successful operations on Al-Shabaab hideouts on Saturday, leading to "more than 100 fatalities" and the destruction of camps.

He said one of the camps targeted was used to plan the attack on a Nairobi-bound bus in Arabia (see separate story).

Mr Ruto spoke yesterday as more shocking accounts of the slaughter by gunmen emerged.

A woman whose relatives said was seven months pregnant was among those shot in the head.

Police and medical officials at the Chiromo mortuary in Nairobi said those killed included 24 teachers, one clinical officer, two police officers, a carpenter and a pharmacist. Majority were aged between 23 and 30.

A school in Mandera lost seven teachers – nearly half of the teaching staff. Dawa Integrated Primary School is the only special school in the entire county. And a Seventh Day Adventist church lost 10 members in the attack.

"We lost 10 members," said the Reverend David Matheka. He told The Standard that when the church met on Saturday, there were only five worshippers guarded by four armed policemen.

The church service could not proceed as the officers were recalled after reports emerged from the hinterland about the attack.

Police Constable Kennedy Otieno, who was stationed in Mandera, and his pregnant wife Beatrice, were travelling to Nairobi for the December holidays when they were killed.

"It is sad because the wife was pregnant and it was their first child," said Otieno's cousin Charles Omollo.

Sisters Fridah Kathambi Mutenja, 30, and Winfred Karimi Mutenja, 28, were also among those killed. They had worked as teachers in Mandera for two years. Each had a child, aged six and four respectively, the family said.

"There were five of us and now only one sister is left. I can't believe they are dead," said their brother Kinoti Mutenja as he queued outside the mortuary to identify their bodies.

Douglas Diganze, 23, had taught in Mandera for two years. His sister Mercy Kavochi said when she heard of the attack, she called their father Xavier Malinda to check if he had travelled as earlier planned.

"He said he had booked him on Maka Bus and confirmed he was among those killed. We just want to be helped to take the body to Vihiga for burial," said Mercy.

Agustine Musicha, who had taught in Mandera for five years, said he lost five colleagues with whom he lived in a rental block.

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Mr Musicha said he travelled to Nairobi last week, earlier than planned, and his colleagues were expected to join him on Saturday.

"They all died and I am wondering why. Is it because they were teachers trying to help the locals or because of their religion?" asked Musicha.

He named them as Kennedy Kiraitu, Philomena Muthiani, Alex Makori, Eric Omwenga and Mildred Khasian.

A clinical officer attached to the Mandera District Hospital's mortuary, Dennis Biesi Nyankemba, appeared to have had a premonition of his death.

In May, he posted on his Facebook account: "My friends I salute you. It is of concern that my life and the lives of other health workers in Mandera is at risk. I was openly told that I can be done within seconds while on duty during daylight. No arrest was made because security at stake. No one to run to, several security officers killed on their way to rescue a miraa car in Somalia! What should I do... remember me in your daily prayers."

Yesterday, Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General Wilson Sossion said 20 teachers were from private schools, two from secondary schools, one from primary and another from an Early Childhood Development Education centre.

Yesterday, relatives broke down after viewing the bodies of their loved ones.

Aid workers counselled the wailing relatives before they were allowed to view the bodies.

"They were all shot in the head and I wonder what they did to deserve this," said Emanuel Mukobi who fought back tears after viewing the bodies. He said his brother had been shot in the head from behind.

Survivors of the attack said the gunmen separated the passengers based on their religion before they shot non-Muslims at close range.

The bodies were flown to Nairobi from Mandera aboard a military plane hours after the incident had happened.

Postmortem examinations will be done today before the families are allowed to pick the bodies for burial.