Kenya's military neutralizes over 60 Al-Shabaab fighters - minister

NAIROBI, Kenya - At least 60 Al-Shabaab militants were neutralized by resilient Kenya Defence Forces [KDF] troops on Tuesday, Kenya's Interior and Coordination of National Government Administration Minister Prof. Kithure Kindiki confirmed, just as the country devices strategy of confronting the terror group.

While appearing at the National Assembly where he was summoned by Members of the Education Committee, Kindiki also confirmed that two people were killed by the militants in Lamu just before the military, based in Nyangoro Forward Operating Base [FOB], responded to the assault.

The attack, Kindiki said, was waged along the busy Lamu-Garsen road which neighbors the dangerous Boni Forest in the coastal region. Several other people were injured and have since been admitted to nearby hospital facilities, reports indicate.

“That operation has been going on since yesterday and I can report we have neutralized all those threats. All people who attacked our people yesterday have been neutralized,” said Kindiki.

“The agencies were nearby and the response was very fast. Unfortunately, we ended up losing one person on the spot and the other died on the way to the hospital. The attackers were many and heavily armed. We neutralized all of them,” Kindiki stated.

Despite the increase in terror attacks in the country, the Interior Boss emphasized that his docket has managed to successfully neutralize a majority of them due to intensified security agencies' operation.

“I am happy to report that despite the few evil successes by terrorists we have neutralized thousands of threats. Many have been not reported because of the nature of the operations. This is armed operations,” he said.

In Somalia, Information Minister Daud Aweys told reporters that in the last week, about 160 "terrorists" were killed near Baidoa and the border between Middle Shabelle and Galgaduud regions in the latest military operations against Al-Shabaab that involved foreign partner forces.

The governments of Kenya and Somalia have been fighting Al-Shabaab jointly, with the Kenya Defense Forces also actively participating directly in the assault against the group. The Al-Shabaab has continued to wreak havoc in the country and neighboring Kenya for a number of years.

GAROWE ONLINE