How KDF has managed to block Al-Shabaab raids in Kenya during Ramadan

NAIROBI, Kenya - A designed cooperation between Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] and the National Intelligence Service [NIS] has significantly reduced Al-Shabaab's operations within Kenya, a confidential security report indicates, thus blocking possible raids by the group.

During this Holy month of Ramadan, which is celebrated among the Muslims, the group had plotted several sophisticated attacks against the Kenyan population, mainly along the roads and strategic buildings, the report notes.

But an advisory by both NIS and KDF to President Uhuru Kenyatta which recommended for a cessation of movements in certain areas and the nationwide curfew has to a larger extent enabled security agencies to thwart attacks planned by the group.

A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed by the state in the pretext of curbing Coronavirus spread across the country and has since been extended for three weeks. This, the report adds, has minimized the threat by the Somalia-based militants on Kenyan soil.

Currently, several roadblocks have been mounted along major roads, further making it cumbersome for agents of the militants to move without being detected. For instance, the government ordered cessation of movements in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Mandera, which are often targeted by the militants.

Al-Shabaab, the report says, has managed to establish five parallel administrations within the seven states of Somalia, further making it cumbersome to completely eradicate the militants. To sustain its activities, the group has been collecting taxes [Zakat] indiscriminately from members of the public.

“Al-Shabaab terror group has upscaled targeted attacks both in Kenya and Somalia. The group has established parallel operational administrative structures in five of the seven Federal member states [FMS] including the capital city, Mogadishu," it reads.

"The terrorist group has also infiltrated the Federal Government of Somalia [FGS] where they occupy key positions, receive financial support, and influence decision making."

Even more worrying, the group is riding on propaganda engineered by Somali citizens both in the country and the diaspora, who have been very toxic to throw operations by the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] and the entire AMISOM troops serving in Somalia.

The team, the report says, has been fueling negative coverage on the AMISOM mission, making Al-Shabaab take advantage and propagate its agenda. Al-Shabaab controls large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia.

"The militants have also taken advantage of the negative propaganda by Somali citizens and their diaspora community in the mainstream media indenting the images of Amisom contributing countries and Kenya, in particular, following the maritime dispute,” it reads.

For the last four months, the group had launched a whopping 18 attacks on Kenyan soil. Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, and Lamu are the most affected, in attacks that leftover 25 people dead including the three Americans killed at Manda Airfield in January.

Weeks before the world’s attention shifted to fight Covid-19, Interior ministry, as well as the United States of America [US], warned airlines against overflying parts of the Kenyan airspace, citing possible terror threats.

In an advisory, the United States Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] urged all US-registered airlines to be cautious while overflying the Kenyan airspace.

“Those persons are advised to exercise caution when flying into, out of, within, or over the territory and airspace of Kenya East of 40 degrees East longitude at altitudes below fl260 due to the possibility of extremist/militant activity,” the FAA noted.

But since the beginning of Ramadan, the attacks have faded due to elaborate security measures, which may be adopted by the government even after Coronavirus pandemic subsidizes in the coming months.

However, the militants have continued to wreak havoc in Somalia despite the Coronavirus pandemic, waging deadly attacks within the capital, Mogadishu. Last week, four people were killed near Halane Base Camp, which hosts AU forces and several diplomatic missions.

KDF troops could be stationed at key entry points to Somalia once the AMISOM mandate expires in 2021, although such a move will be made after a discussion within the National Security Council, which is headed by the president.

GAROWE ONLINE