Renowned lawyer Donald Kipkorir now wants a section of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers punished for offences against military law.

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This is after claims emerged that they went into hiding when Al-Shabaab militants attacked Manda Bay Airstrip early this month.

According to a story published by the New York Times, the soldiers 'hid in the grass' when the terrorists attacked the military base which hosts KDF and US soldiers.

The attack on January 5 left three Americans dead; one soldier and two civilians working for the US Department of Defence (DOD).

"Many of the local Kenyan forces, assigned to defend the base, hid in the grass while other American troops and support staff were corralled into tents, with little protection, to wait out the battle," the NYT reported.

Kipkorir said if the allegations were true, the soldiers went against military law and, therefore, should be court-martialled and be imprisoned as per the Kenya Defence Act.

"Now we know why no KDF soldier was killed yet US Elite forces were when Al Shabaab attacked Manda Bay military base in Lamu ... When Al Shabaab attack begun, KDF ran and hid in the bush ... The KDF soldiers should be court-martialled for cowardice," he tweeted on Wednesday.

"Under the Kenya Defence Act, running away from the enemy or leaving your station when attacked is cowardice and the penalty is Life Imprisonment .. If the New York Times story is true, those KDF cowards of Manda, Lamu have no choice," the flamboyant lawyer added.