United States of America Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter has defended Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) against claims that its officers went into hiding during Manda Bay Airstrip terrorist attack.
The New York Times on Wednesday reported that the Kenyan soldiers hid in the grass when Al-Shabaab raided the camp which hosts US Marine Corps and KDF.
Three Americans were killed during the attack.
"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 New York Times reported.
McCarter, however, poured cold water on the reports, confirming KDF soldiers joined hands with US forces to repel the militants during the January 5 attack.
"Despite recent media reports, KDF, as always, responded in full force alongside US troops at Camp Simba. Together we remain committed to decimating Al-Shabaab," the envoy tweeted on Thursday.
KDF spokesman Col Paul Njuguna has also dismissed the reports, noting investigation into the attack has not been concluded to know exactly what transpired.
“It is strange where the news report is coming from and why at this time when we are waiting for investigations to be concluded. We can only have a correct and factual account of the happenings once the report is finalised,” Njuguna said, as quoted by the Daily Nation.