Kenyan Military: Gigantic Cost of the War in Somalia

A News Report on the cost of war by Kenyan troops in Somalia has been published by Standard, a local newspaper citing the Kenyan government spending an enormous covert wealth to maintain its peacekeeping soldiers inside the horn of African country.

Top in the undisclosed matters include financial expenses of the military and the death toll of the twin attacks on the soldiers in El Adde and Kulbiyow in 2016 and 2017 respectively where an estimated 1,000 soldiers have fallen since the troops entered Somalia in 2011 according to the report.

On the financial level, source close to the military say KShs 7,000 (roughly US$ 70) is the cost of expenses per one soldier each day in Somalia which covers food, transport, medical care and water among others.

Kenya has 4,000 troops in Somalia based in Kismayo, the interim capital of Jubbaland State which amounts to KShs 210,000 (US$ 2,100) of one soldier per month. This amount will annually run into a whooping total of KShs 10,080,000,000 (US$100,800,000) yet some of the families of the deceased soldiers are still waiting compensation from the local authorities cited the Kenyan Newspaper.

Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta is adamant that his troops will remain inside Somalia.

“Even as we recognize the sacrifices made so far, we appreciate that this war is not yet won. I urge you all to stand firm in the support of our men and women as we continue our critical mission in Somalia,” he said.

But the report carried a contrary emotion depicted by the public in a survey done last year by Ipsos Synovate where majority of Kenyans (68 per cent) want KDF pulled out of Somalia.

Several deadly attacks carried inside Kenya by Alshabab fighters are continued retaliations against the presence of Kenyan troops in Somalia said the group.

Kenyan troops entered southern Somalia in 2011 to fight Alshabab fighters, later joining the AU force.

Goobjoog News