Uhuru: Fallen KDF troops will be honoured in their camps

Mombasa: President Uhuru Kenyatta has asked Kenyans to pray for KDF soldiers and accord them all the support they require in achieving their mission in Somalia.

In bid to respond to calls by the public to hold a national mourning ceremony for the fallen soldiers, the president said that the military will honour the soldiers within their regiments and camps.

“The military will honour the fallen within their regiments and camps. They are also managing burial plans,” said the president through State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu.  

“So, as we celebrate the lives of our fallen heroes, our military command has made it clear that ceremonies that allow criminals to celebrate their hideous acts add no value to KDF morale. We are in an active state of war. Our troops are engaged in combat,” said the president.

The President, who has been in the Coast for almost a month now, said updates on the military operation in Somalia and especially on the El Adde attack will continue to come from the Ministry of Defence and the Kenya Defence Forces.

The president said the next of kin are being informed about their loved ones before general announcements can be made.

Esipisu also clarified that the president had not summoned the military command to Mombasa, adding that he continued to be briefed regularly on operational and other procedures in the force.