Nairobi : Kenya security forces pursue Al Shabaab militia briefly into Somalia territory

al shabaab militia on patrols in somalia

By LUVEI TIMES Reporter | Nairobi, Kenya

KENYA security Forces made a brief incursion into Somalia following the attack on a policeman at Liboi border checkpoint by gunmen suspected to be members of Al Shabaab militia.

The penetration across was aimed at infiltrating the militia group, which has frequently raided Kenya in a bid to impose its ideologies on locals. A joint team of military and police pursued the gunmen into Somalia after they shot injuring a General Service Unit (GSU) officer on Tuesday morning.

Deal gone sour

However, there were contradicting information on circumstances surrounding the attack in Lagdera. The police constable is currently recuperating in hospital nursing gunshot wounds on the leg. His colleague escaped unscathed. Some intelligence reports indicated that the officer was shot after a deal with the attackers went sour.

“ Really is it al Shabaab or other things. We understand the officer has been having some business dealings with the group, though am not an authority to comment on the matter. But that attack revolved around some unclear businesses,” said the highly placed source.

Police spokesman Erick Kiraithe dismissed the claims saying they were not reasonable since the Kenya/Somalia border has always been risky. “I don’t think so, the allegation is untenable and wild,” he added.

This is the second time the police have been attacked at the checkpoint. In April, suspected Somali insurgents raided the area before hurling hand grenades at the GSU camp as they fled back into their country.

A source said no arrests were made during the incursion about four kilometres into Somalia. “That is normal, we have to show them our power, but the objective is to disorient them and if possible gather some intelligence,” added the source.

Kenya border is safe

Military spokesman Bogita Ongeri reiterated the border was safe. Joint teams of military, regular and administration police have been stationed strategically along the porous border, he added. Despite the heavy presence of security personnel over the last two weeks following the Kampala bombings which left 74 people dead, insurgents still find their way into Kenya.

Senior Government officials were now grappling with the illegal entry problem believed to be encouraged by some bureaucrats after the weekend arrest of a senior police officer linked to a human trafficking syndicate operating between Mogadishu and Nairobi.

The seizure of the officer as he ferried Somalis into the country, came days after the head of Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) Nicholas Kamwende asked Kenyans to be on the look out for suspicious foreigners in public places. Al Shabaab has frequently threatened to attack Kenya accusing her of supporting the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.