War on terror: Defence CS Duale vows to end Al-Shabaab attacks in North Eastern

Defence Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale has vowed to combat Al-Shabaab head-on along the Kenya-Somalia border.

With increased Al-Ahabaab activity in the recent past, the CS seems to have changed tact and included the community in the war on terror.

Duale also put on notice collaborators of Al-Shabaab in the country, saying he will work with his Interior counterpart Kithure Kindiki to gather intelligence on community leaders and businessmen on Kenyan soil who communicate with and fund the leadership of the terror outfit.

The CS visited four towns along the Kenya-Somalia border that have borne the brunt of terror activities in the North Eastern region where area leaders called on the community to collaborate with security personnel to flush out Al-Shabaab from amongst them.

“I am sending a straight-forward message to the leadership rank and file of Al-Shabaab, that we will hunt you down using all the security apparatus under our disposition. We will protect the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of our people,” said Duale.

“As part of the IGAD, we will hunt you down in Kenya and Somalia, and we will destroy your infrastructure.”

Wajir County Commissioner Ngumo Karuku, on his part, added: “Serikali ina jukumu la kulinda mali na uhai wenu, lakini pia nyinyi mko na hilo jukumu kwa kutoa habari zilizofaa kwa serikali. Na sisi tukipata hiyo habari tunachukua hatua iliyofaa.”

This comes after suspected Al-Shabaab militants simultaneously attacked three different locations within Mandera County in the wee hours of Friday morning.

The first attack took place at Iresuki area where the militants ambushed police officers manning a Safaricom mast located approximately 15 kilometres away from Elwak Police Station.

The militants likewise reportedly lay siege to Wargadud Police Station.