The president maintained that Kenya’s only interest in Somalia was to ensure peace, stability and prosperity and that KDF personnel will not stay a minute longer once that mandate is achieved.
He said that Kenya also aims to see the approximately 700,000 Somali refugees who currently live in refugee camps safely return to their motherland.
“Our forces will remain in Somalia for only as long as is necessary, as we work towards restoring normalcy under the umbrella of AMISOM. Kenya stands ready to help the people and Government of Somalia during the reconstruction process,” he pledged.
“I send my heartfelt condolences to the families and relatives of our brave men and women who have lost their lives in the defence of their motherland. I also condole with the families of security forces who have died in the line of duty while hunting down terrorists and other dangerous elements within our borders. We salute them as modern day heroes,” he said.
He appealed to the international community to come to the aid of the people of Somalia to ensure that they consolidate the gains made in bringing about peace.
The Mashujaa Day celebrations were marked amidst tight security that involved both police both and the military. Screening was thoroughly done at all entry points as armed soldiers kept vigil around the perimeter fence of the stadium to dent any threats.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga who attended the celebrations among other Cabinet ministers and dignitaries called on the British government not to appeal against a court ruling that allowed three Mau Mau veterans to sue the UK for crimes committed during the colonial era.
He said that the British government should in fact expedite the process of compensating the veteran fighters as they were in their sunset years.
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