Nkaissery warns against graphic content after al Shabaab attack on KDF in Somalia

Sunday, January 17, 2016

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The Interior CS has warned against the circulation of graphic images of KDF soldiers killed in Somalia saying this will not be tolerated.

Al Shabaab attacked a remote Somali army base and entered a nearby town close to the border with Kenya on Friday.

The al Qaeda-linked terror grouped said it killed dozens of soldiers who are part of the African Union Mission in Somalia.

The Kenya Defence Forces has not confirmed the number of victims but has in the past decried exaggerations by the terror group.

"I have directed the Inspector General of Police to apprehend those circulating images of the attack on El Adde," CS Nkaissery told a press conference in Mombasa on Saturday.

Nkaissery said "characters who amplify terror by sharing pictures" have ignored warnings issued in the past.

"This will not be tolerated and action will be taken on the culpable individuals," he said and sent condolence messages to victim's families.

He said the war on terror, radicalisation and extremism will continue as planned.

Several leaders have condemned the attack that resulted in a Twitter discussion about the presence of the army in Somalia.

Al Shabaab has carried out several attacks in Kenya, the deadliest being the massacre of 147 people, mostly students, at Garissa University College on April 2, 2015.

Uhuru said in a statement on Friday that Kenya will not be intimidated by "cowards" but Kenyans on Twitter criticised him on Friday saying this was a cliche statement.

Cord leader Raila Odinga condoled with the families of the soldiers saying the country has "lost some of its best defenders".

"I extend deep condolences to the families, friends and relatives of soldiers who have died in a valiant effort to keep our country and the world safe," he said in a statement on Friday.

Raila told the families of the slain patriots that "we mourn with them and we stand together at this moment of monumental grief".

He asked Kenyans to stand together in condemning the "brutal and brazen" attack on freedom.

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula condemned the "atrocious, barbaric and savage criminal act" and celebrated "their willingness to serve so selflessly including paying the ultimate price".

"Let us not forget the importance of their service and the critical mission they died supporting," he said in a statement on Saturday.

Somalia's Foreign minister Abdirahman Duale said the attack is "unforgivable" and that the sacrifice of Kenyan soldiers will not be in vain.

On Friday, Somali and Kenyan military officials said the fighters had seized the Somali army base near the town of Ceel Cadde, about 550 km (340 miles) west of Mogadishu in a region near Kenya's border.

The group said it took over the base after a suicide bomber rammed its gates, and also controlled the town, capturing nearly 30 trucks and armoured vehicles.

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