Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Nyagah has recounted his experiences in Somalia as the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) crossed the border in pursuit of the Al Shabaab militia.
In an exclusive interview with Nation, Nyagah said that Somalia is a danger zone, and KDF officers deserve respect for the effort as well as the commitment they have made in the war against terror.
The colonel said that the most trying moment of his career was when he lost Corporal Kiptum. The officer narrated that Kiptum, who had led the KDF in driving the terrorists from the Kenya-Somalia border into the interior, was shot dead at the GSU patrol base in Harhar border. He said that they were waiting for the final orders before the terrorists ambushed them.
He also said that it was tough watching two of his colleagues shot dead in his presence and the wife of one of them called to inquire about his whereabouts. He admitted that he had a hard time informing the widow that her man was no more after his phone rang. He identified the two officers as Lieutenant Webi and Lieutenant Okoyo.
“Shortly after his death, his phone rang and I could see it was his wife. How could I tell her that the body of her dead husband was in front of me? Losing two platoon commanders, Lieutenant Webi and Lieutenant Okoyo, on the way to liberating Hoosingow was tough,” Col Nyagah said.
The officer, who was born in Loitokitok, Kajiado district, further said that it takes courage to face terror militia. Nyaga noted that he has learned a lot in life since he entered with the troops to Somalia to fight the terrorists.