The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) has dismissed claims that it's officers hid during a delicate operation at Manda Bay Airfield, when Al-Shabaab attacked.
The Airfield which hosts US Marine Corps and a section of KDF was attacked by Al-Shabaab militants on January 5th this year, leavig three people dead.
A report published by New York Times on Wednesday claimed KDF troops hid in grass to secure themselves from the onslaught.
“The performance of the Kenyan security forces during and after the battle frustrated American officials,” New York Times said in a story compiled by four of its journalists.
However, KDF spokesman Col Paul Njuguna rubbished the reports, adding that the public should wait for official report.
“It is strange on where the news report is coming from and why at this time when we are waiting for the investigations to be concluded. We can only have a correct and factual account of the happenings once the report is finalised,” Military Spokesperson Colonel Paul Njuguna told Nation.
Primarily, the base, which also extends to Camp Simba, belongs to the US, and it is the duty of their soldiers to protect it.
After the attack, KDF was quick to claim that it had killed five terrorists and arrested five others, although the report suggests that no attacker was arrested.
The US deployed more Marine Corps from the East Africa Response Forces (EARF) to the site to secure the area.
Interestingly, the report comes just a week after the US Africa Command claimed that the attackers were facilitated by locals.