Uhuru to announce three-day national mourning for KDF soldiers

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo and Chief of Defence Forces Samson Mwathethe receive Kenya Defence Forces soldiers who survived an assault by al Shabaab militants in Somalia last Friday. Photo/PATRICK VIDIJA

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The President is set to announce a three-day period of national mourning for Kenya Defence Forces soldiers killed in Somalia on Friday.

The declaration Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to make at State House, Mombasa, on Tuesday follows Cord leader Raila Odinga's request for two days of mourning.

Uhuru has been inspecting development projects at the Coast.

Al Shabaab attacked a remote African Union base in Somalia, killed dozens of soldiers and captured others whom Kenya is on a mission to rescue.

"Because of the physical and psychological magnitude of this tragedy, we urge that during this period, all flags be flown at half-mast," Raila said in a statement with Cord co-principals on Monday.

The Cord leader also urged Uhuru to suspend all activities and convene an emergency session of the Cabinet to provide a way forward and guide Kenyans.

"Nothing can be more important to our people at this moment. Once again, our prayers are with the families, friends and relatives of the fallen soldiers," he said.

The number of casualties has not been released, leaving a gap which Raila said is being filled by the terror group's propaganda. He asked the President to reassure Kenyans that all is not lost.

Al Shabaab did not say how many soldiers it captured but revised the number of those killed from 63 to 100.

At least 30 injured soldiers have been flown back to Kenya, while four bodies arrived on Monday evening amid a search, rescue and recovery operation.

Defence CS Raychelle Omamo said affected families would receive details before the rest of the public.

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