Residents of Longonot ward in Naivasha constituency gathered in a sorrowful send off for one of the slain Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers one month after the deadly attack in El Adde, Somalia.
Led by local leaders, representatives from the Kenya Army and other government representatives, the deceased, identified as John Kimani, was eulogised as a national hero, who was patriotic enough to die for his country.
“We are gathered here today to pay our last respects to one of our fallen heroes John. He, among others who lost their lives in the line of duty, will be remembered by this country, and the world at large for their dedication and commitment to ensure peace in Kenya and the neighbouring countries," said Boniface Njogu, an aspiring MCA on Wednesday.
The family of the deceased however blamed the government for the slow and shoddy process of informing the bereaved families of the safety of their loved ones as well as identifying the bodies following the delayed plans since the January 15, deadly attack.
“We have been trying to liaise with the government since we last heard from our son but it took them more than four weeks to finally confirm to us that he was gone following a series of autopsies and DNA tests. We only got the final confirmation last week,” Morgan Thui, a relative confirmed.
The event was dominated by military decorum including a 21-gun salute as a symbol of respect for the departed hero therefore little banal political talks lately witnessed in most public gatherings.