KDF Rubbishes Claims that Kenyan Soldiers Hid in the Grass During Lamu Al-Shabaab Attack

The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) has dismissed claims by a section of the American media that their soldiers hid in the grass during the al-Shabaab attack on Camp Simba military base in Lamu on January 5th.

On Wednesday, The New York Times published an article claiming that Kenyan soldiers hid in the bushes when armed gunmen stormed the camp, leaving their American counterparts on their own.

“The performance of the Kenyan security forces during and after the battle frustrated American officials,” The New York Times said.

It added: "Many of the local Kenyan forces, assigned to defend the base, hid in the grass while other American troops and support staff were corralled into tents, with little protection, to wait out the battle."

But in a rejoinder, KDF Spokesperson Colonel Paul Njuguna rubbished the claims adding that investigations into the attack that claimed the lives of three American nationals were still ongoing.

“It is strange where the news report is coming from and why at this time when we are waiting for the investigations to be concluded. We can only have a correct and factual account of the happenings once the report is finalized,” Col. Njuguna told Daily Nation.

Those killed during the raid included a US service member and two Department of Defense contractors, the US Africa Command confirmed, adding that two other contractors were injured.

The New York Times added that US authorities believe that the terrorists may have been assisted by Kenyan workers at the camp. Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organization that operates from Somalia, claimed responsibility for the attack.

"Investigators are looking at the possibility the attackers had help from Kenyan staff on the base. The performance of the Kenyan security forces during and after the battle frustrated American officials," The New York Times added in the article.