The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the US AFRICOM Command has awarded three Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) soldiers with medals for their bravery and defense on the January 5, 2020 attack incident on the Manda bay airfield base in Manda, Lamu County, Kenya.
AFRICOM Director of Operations Major General Gregory Anderson presented the awards to Colonel Daniel Rotich, Major Martin Muthaura and Corporal Peter Shikuri, for their prompt response to the attack on Camp Simba in Manda.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Major General Anderson thanked the three soldiers for their dedicated defense work in the fight against Al-shabab terror militants.
“You have protected yourselves on the front lines of the war to protect others and to save your nation. This is truly commendable and we thank you for your courage, ”said Major General Anderson.
Al-Shabaab’s attack on the Manda-bay base in Kenya on January 5, 2020 killed three US soldiers and wounded a Kenya defense officer. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.
Al-Shabaab extremists overran the key military base used by U.S. counterterrorism forces in Kenya before dawn, killing the three American Department of Defense personnel and destroying several U.S. aircraft and vehicles before they were repelled.
The attack on the Manda Bay Airfield was the al-Qaida-linked terror group’s first attack against U.S. forces in the East African country and the military called the security situation “fluid” several hours after the assault.
Five attackers were killed in the dawn attack incident, according to the Kenya military spokesman.
BY OSMAN HUSSEIN ALI
