KDF Soldiers Accused of 'Hiding in the Grass', Leaving their US Counterparts on their Own During the Lamu Al-Shabaab Attack

KDF Soldiers Accused of 'Hiding in the Grass', Leaving their US Counterparts on their Own During the Lamu Al-Shabaab Attack

New reports by a section of the US media claim that soldiers from the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) failed to cover their American counterparts during an al-Shabaab attack on Camp Simba in Manda Bay, Lamu County on January 5th.

Kenyan soldiers allegedly hid in the grass when armed gunmen stormed the military base, killing three American citizens, according to The New York Times. Camp Simba hosts both Kenyan and US forces.

"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," The New York Times says in the article published on Wednesday, January 22nd.

Among those killed during the raid was 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 The New York Times adds in the article.

It further reported that KDF claimed to have captured six of the attackers but they all turned out to be "bystanders and were released." The publication noted that, on the morning of the attack, contractor pilots Dustin Harrison, 47, and Bruce Triplett, 64, were taxiing their Beechcraft King Air 350 on Manda Bay’s tarmac.

"They throttled down their engines, according to one person familiar with the attack. The two men reported that they saw animals darting across the runway. They were wrong. The animals were in fact Shabab fighters, who had infiltrated the base’s outer perimeter — a poorly defended fence line — before heading to the base’s airstrip," the article reads.

The publication added that al-Shabab fighters fired a rocket-propelled grenade into the plane soon after it began to taxi, killing Harrison and Triplett. "With the plane on fire, a third contractor, badly burned in the rear of the aircraft, crawled out to safety," it states.
 

Comments

Mugikuyu (not verified)     Wed, 01/22/2020 @ 12:28pm

KDF should stop engaging themselves in unnecessary wars or they risk being discarded like the Kurds in Syria. Instead they should focus more on border control measures because thats where illegal sugar, guns and other contraband goods pass through which only help in enriching politicians.
Looking at this particular incident who would blame the soldiers behavior if indeed this is true? These guys understand that if they are injured, nobody really cares about them. Their deaths have remained a secret. They are left in the field badly injured while their counterparts are airlifted to the best hospitals in the world. Is this fair?

maxiley (not verified)     Wed, 01/22/2020 @ 03:39pm

In reply to by Mugikuyu (not verified)

@ Mugikuyu,The way I look at it is that, KDF abdicated their duties.They are not there for the Americans. They are there for the interest,or should I say the defense of our country.Whether Americans, Indians, Europeans or whoever is there,is inconsequential.Look at these foreign forces as supplemental.
KDF will still be there whether Americans are there or not.So if what they did is true,it a serious offense.
What is unfair is these damn Alshabab disturbing the peace of Kenyans,and it is unconscionable to think that our fellow Kenyans are helping them. We are good neighbors to all countries we share borders with.

Mugikuyu (not verified)     Wed, 01/22/2020 @ 07:28pm

In reply to by maxiley (not verified)

@Maxiley, I would take anything NY times says with a grain of salt because they can be really tabloid.
I would like to hear the other side of the story.
Two, we know Al-shabab has sympathizers in Kenya and the Kenyan gova has never dealt with this issue. That said I beg to ask, why are Kenyans fighting in Somalia? What are Kenyans gaining from this besides straining relationships with our neighbors and having young men die? We do alot for Somalia then they end up selling our maritime land and taking us to court all while we actively support their weakling/ or imitation of a government. That is synonymous with someone poopping on your head in your house! We also know there is a lot of corruption happening around the border but surprisingly the issue with Al-Shabab is never raised when corruption is happening, why? Very convenient. Ill equipped KDF should get out of Somalia, throw the sympathizers into Somalia and close the border. We should stop being occupiers and also stop fighting other peoples wars.

Guest (not verified)     Wed, 01/22/2020 @ 06:40pm

In reply to by Mugikuyu (not verified)

They did the right thing by hiding.

Up to date, the Kenyan government is still counting the number of soldiers killed in El Adde attack.

They are also still counting the number of students killed in Garissa University attack.

Kenyans are on their own and they should avoid getting killed by Al shabab.

maxiley (not verified)     Wed, 01/22/2020 @ 01:55pm

This paintes the KDF combatants in avery negative way.
1. They colluded with the enemy
2.They hid in the bush "cowardly"
3.They frustrated their American counterparts
4.Poor fencing of compound
Well,if true these are serious offenses.The allegations that some Kenyans collude,and aid enemy Alshabab is not new. This makes me wonder if Somalis living in those areas truly consider themselves Kenyans.Whom do they pledge their allegiance to?
Anybody found aiding and abetting Alshabab should hang right away.

Kujipanga Kibowen (not verified)     Wed, 01/22/2020 @ 04:12pm

It called taking cover! Were (KDF) suppose to be running around or playing soccer as the attack was taking place??? Come on people! and for the collusion part; that to me is lame. May be Kenya should build a wall border with these criminals(Alshabs & Somalia).

Guest (not verified)     Wed, 01/22/2020 @ 06:25pm

Foreign diplomats, Kikuyus and Kalenjins need to explain why they did not protect the Americans.

After all they are the real Kenyans and the rest of us are tourists.

We are seceding, terrorism is not priority to us.

Guest (not verified)     Wed, 01/22/2020 @ 06:57pm

Am very happy Kenyan soldier’s saved their lives.

1. Kenya has its owners who need to fight their war with Al shabab.

This is not our war.

Guest (not verified)     Thu, 01/23/2020 @ 11:46pm

In reply to by maxiley (not verified)

KDF is there for money.
Allowance,selling charcoal and sugar in kismayo.

Deep state and the owners of kenya need to go fight Al shabab.

The American government and its allies are supporting impunity in Kenya.

The medicine for impunity is terrorism, so for sure they are not fighting terrorism. They’re just lying. Smokes n mirrors.

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