Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale will today appear before the plenary of the House to respond to various questions from senators.
Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute wants the CS to state the number of security personnel who have been injured or have lost their lives while serving in Somalia as part of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM).
Chute also wants Duale to highlight the Government's policies regarding compensation, support and welfare packages for the families of the security personnel.
“What benefits and strategic advantages has Kenya accrued from her participation in AMISOM?” reads a question from the senator as listed in the Order Paper.
Chute will also ask Duale to state plans, if any, for the withdrawal of Kenyan troops from AMISOM and, if so, indicate the timelines.
Kenya launched Operation Linda Nchi and entered into Somalia on October 14, 2011.
The purpose of this operation was to degrade the Al Qaeda–affiliated Al-Shabab Islamist group in Somalia who were posing a security challenge in Kenya, hence threatening Kenya’s security and national interest.
The decision was reached after a series of incidents of boarder attacks and incursions by the militia group along the common border with Somalia where, Kenyan aid workers in Dadaab, a couple in Kiwayu Safari villages in Lamu and abduction of a French tourist lady were witnessed.
In light of continued threats, the Government of Kenya invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter in order to secure the right to self – defence from these unwarranted attacks by the militia group.
To sustain the gains made by KDF after a few months in Somalia, the UN and AU invited Kenya to incorporate KDF into AMISOM in November 2011.
The troops from Kenya were later formally integrated into AMISOM on February 22, 2012, via the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2036 (2012).
Resolution 2036 expanded the AMISOM mandate by increasing the manning level from 12,731 to 17,731.
Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia re-energised regional and international resolve to address the al-Shabaab’s threat to peace and security.
The revised mandate required AMISOM to establish its presence in four sectors, in coordination with local security forces, so as to reduce the al-Shabaab threat and set conditions for restoration of state authority.
KDF troops were assigned to Middle Juba and Lower Juba regions that were designed as Sector 2.