Kenya spent $17m on a security deployment in Somalia
Kenya spent $17m on a security deployment in Somalia
For its contribution to the Somalia peacekeeping mission, now known as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, whose mandate is slated to expire in December of next year, Kenya has collected Ksh2.5 billion ($17 million) during the previous five years.
This Monday, Aden Duale, the defense cabinet secretary, informed the legislature that the funds were sent to the National Treasury in installments of Ksh500 million ($3.3 million) each year.
In accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2036, the forces were formally included into the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) the following year. Later, Amisom would be changed into Atmis with a drawdown schedule through December 2024. Mr. Duale added that settlement of compensation for fallen soldiers in Somalia occurs within 30 days.
“If the officer was serving domestically, they would instantly receive Ksh4 million ($26, 881) in addition to his pension, which includes a death gratuity component. Duale told the National Assembly that the AU and UN would give the family Ksh5 million ($33,602) if the soldier had been served under Atmis in Somalia in addition to the Ksh4 million. He did not specify how many troops and officers had perished in Somalia.
The worst was the attack on a KDF Forward Operating Base in El Adde in January 2016; the KDF has experienced at least three significant Al Shabaab strikes throughout its ten-year presence in Somalia.
The next year, another attempt was conducted in Kulbiyow with fewer losses, and a third attempt was made in Hoosingo in 2012 with fewer casualties as well. Over the years, the troops have not only eliminated terrorist cells in Somalia that could have been used to organize attacks in Kenya, but they have also trained Somali forces, secured the neighborhood, supplied medication, water, and education to women about other forms of income.
In spite of Somalia’s latest plea to postpone scheduled September drawdowns by three months, Duale stated this week that more than 4,000 KDF personnel will depart Somalia as directed by the UN.
