The US government has announced a Ksh1.3 billion cash reward to anyone who can provide information that would help arrest suspects behind the terrorist attack at the Manda Bay Airfield in Lamu in 2020.
The suspects include Abdullahi Banati, who is said to be one of the masterminds of the attack. The cash reward is equivalent to about $10 million.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 8, the US, through its Somali Embassy, stated that anyone with information that can help it nab the individuals should get in touch with the US Department of State through Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp (+1-202-975-9160).
According to the embassy, the reward is under the Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ), a special program that has, over the past 40 years, paid out Ksh32 billion ($250 million) to individuals providing critical information that has helped reinforce and protect US National Security.
The US said any information provided will remain 'strictly' confidential.
"The US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, which is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Abdullahi Banati or any other individual responsible for the January 5, 2020, terrorist attack on US and Kenyan personnel at the Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya," the statement read.
The Somali-based extremist group attacked the base, which has been utilized by Kenyan and US troops as a training and counterterrorism support base, at the dawn of Sunday, January 5, 2020.
The group attacked the base's airstrip, targeting US aircraft and vehicles parked at the base using Rocket Propelled Grenades(RPG).
According to police reports, the attack, which lasted for four hours, damaged two fixed-wing aircraft, a US Cessna and a Kenyan one, two US helicopters, and US vehicles.
According to the US, the attack further claimed the lives of one US service member and two US Department of Defense (DoD) contractors and injured two US soldiers and one DoD contractor, and a Kenyan soldier.
"The Manda Bay Airfield is part of a Kenyan Defense Forces military base utilized by US armed forces to provide training and counterterrorism support to East African partners, respond to crises, and protect US interests in the region," the embassy said.
The US has warned that the extremist group continues to plan more terrorist attacks targeting the United States and its foreign partners.
"As the principal East African affiliate of the al-Qa’ida terrorist organization, Al-Shabaab is responsible for numerous terrorist attacks in Kenya, Somalia, and neighbouring countries that have killed thousands of people, including US citizens," it stated.
