Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Deputy Commander 4th Brigade Col Joel Maiyo has recounted an 11-hour battle during an attack in Somalia.
In a TV interview on Sunday, November 20, Maiyo recalled how his team was ambushed by a group of 1,000 al Shabaab militants.
He noted that, during the 2012 battle, the enemy attacked from three directions during the battle that fire exchange at 4 a.m. until 2 p.m. Their attack was coordinated by use of whistles like a football match.
Maiyo noted that the biggest challenge from the ambush was Al Shabaabs nature of attack which was spontaneous and indirect.
"The biggest challenge we faced during Linda Nchi, is how to deal with the enemy who don't actually attack you directly but basically employs unconventional tactics such as laying of IEDs ('Improvised Explosive Device) and ambushes. The most challenging moment is when you cannot identify the civilian from the enemy
"The Al Shabaab mounted attack on our defence position. They actually came from three different directions. They surrounded the defence position and of course they deployed very serious weapon system," he stated.
He also revealed that the al Shabaab planned the event in stages with trainees attacking first before the seasoned fighters joining in.
Maiyo further noted that he lost two officers during the fierce battle but was saved by the deployment of Kenya Air Force and the jet fighters from Laikipia Air Base who decimated the attack.
"That night, there was a fierce battle between us and the enemy. That is where I lost two of my officers. One off the officers was second Lieutenant Okoyo and Lieutenant Lebi and they passed away.
"The attack was highly coordinated because they were like a football match because they were coordinating series of attacks using the whistle. You could hear team in the East blow a whistle. the other two would be silent as they launched attacks," he added.
The operation kicked of in 2011 and less than a year later, the Port of Kismayu had already been secured from the militia group.
KDF Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Godfrey Owuor noted that the state was impressed with the officers' progress in Somalia.
"We are very impressed by the achievement so far and we believe that when they take the same stride, we will see a completely peaceful Jubaland and Kismayu in the next 10 years," he stated.
In the last 10 years, Al Shabaab has staged over four attacks in Kenya including Westgate Mall, DusitD2, Mpeketoni and Garissa University.
