The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has received a backlash from a section of Kenyans on Twitter after the New York Times revealed they took off leaving US troops without cover.
The American press revealed that the Kenyan soldiers slept on the job after Al Shabaab climbed the base perimeter wall to gain access to the airstrip in a battle that saw three US servicemen killed.
Wednesday afternoon, flamboyant city lawyer Donald Kipkorir took on the matter to discredit the KDF soldiers who are reported to have run and hid in the grass as the militants overran Camp Simba.
In his words, Kipkorir stated: ” Now we know why no KDF Soldier was killed yet US Elite forces were when al Shabaab attacked Manda Bay military base in Lamu … When al Shabaab attack began, KDF ran & hid in the bush … The KDF soldiers should be court-martialled for cowardice.”
However, he would face backlash from a Twitter user identified as @lunasogun who told off the lawyer for ‘delving into matters beyond (his) grasp.”
Upon which the lawyer replied: “Why should a soldier run away from bullets? You are not an athlete! A true soldier must die standing his ground. You are a coward.”
Here are some of the reactions:
🔹In Westgate KDF bungled the whole operation, shot their Recce comrades & looted the entire mall.
🔹In Kismayu, credible reports have documented their involvement in illicit trade.
🔹Locally, they often harass & assault innocent Kenyans.On Manda Bay, I believe the Americans.
— ᴍᴀɪɴᴀ ᴠ. ᴡᴀᴄʜɪʀᴀ (@_MainaWachira) January 22, 2020
What do you expect when 99% of KDF consists of clowns. What happened at Manda Bay was the same as El-Adde, trained and heavily armed soldiers scampering for safety from a much less equipped enemy. They have brought shame and dishonour to the country.
— Prodrian™ (@Prodrius) January 22, 2020
Manda Bay has outed @KDFINFO, Cowards who were recruited for keeping their teeth clean with no cavity nor gaps + Bribes. A Rag Tag army of emaciated Somali army of Al shabaab routinely kill them. A coward who couldn't even play `Banno' is a soldier while I am a hustler @USArmy
— YOSEMITE SAM (@PANTHER12616352) January 22, 2020
US criticizes KDF reaction during the manda bay attack. What do you expect when you have to part with 180k in order to join KDF? Only the rich and very likely soft people join our army. Even alshabaab fighters are more tough and resistant than our army
— Meshack ibrahim (@MeshukoAbraham) January 22, 2020
However, a different group ran to the rescue of the beleaguered KDF officers, saying they did whatever was in their judgement the right thing.
We should not discredit the Kenyan soldiers who hid in the grass, during the alshabbab attack on Manda bay. I mean in case of death on the line of duty, the families left behind are compensated pennies that wouldn't sustain them for long. Compared to the USA military pic.twitter.com/AShFKCOrpj
— oppressed kenyan (@Siupyungnovice) January 22, 2020
Ati at Manda Bay Kenyan Intelligence officers arrested bystanders 😂😂😭
First there were no casualties, then they
hid in the grass.
Lies lies even to American intelligence who probably know more than god .But you'll call it white propaganda
— MadPsychic (@Ole_Soyinka) January 22, 2020
Fvck US and their propaganda! They were defeated at Manda Bay just like they were defeated in Somalia by the same militia back in 1993. Our boys are brave and not cowards as US Githeri Media is trying to potray them.
— Notorious (@notoriouskot) January 22, 2020