The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) on Monday unveiled a monument in honour of soldiers whO lost their lives while on duty as the country marks the annual KDF Day.
“In memoriam,” the monument erected at the Lang’ata Barracks reads, before listing the names of the soldiers and their dates of death.
Kenya Defence Forces unveil a monument in honour of fallen soldiers at KDF Day 2019.
We honour the brave sons and daughters of this land who paid the ultimate price by giving their lives for the defence of our country. #NTVToday pic.twitter.com/ROuauzkn6z
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) October 14, 2019
According to KDF, the monument not only commemorates the sacrifice of the KDF heroes, but also the success achieved so far by the body charged with defending the country’s borders, including by fighting off Somalia based Al-Shabaab militants.
KDF, under Operation Linda Nchi, crossed the porous Kenya-Somalia border in 2011 and managed to retake the Port of Kismayu from the dreaded terror group, which has since launched several attacks on Kenya and on KDF soldiers in protest of the KDF presence in Somalia.
The deadliest attack on Kenyan soldiers by Al Shabaab millitants is the El-Adde one in January 2016, when the millitants stormed an African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) camp that was occupied by Kenyan soldiers.
The terrorists detonated powerful bombs and overun the camp with guns.
The number of soldiers killed in the attack is still a controversial topic, with international media reporting a figure of over 100. Others were reported to have been taken hostage by the millitants who later released a video reading out names on identity cards that they had collected from the dead soldiers.
More officers have lost their lives in Kenya and in Somalia through ambushes by the militants and hidden explosives along patrol routes.
“By this monument we therefore honour and gloriy the brave sons and daughters of this land who paid the ultimate price by giving up their lives for the defense of this country,” KDF said in the monument citation.
“Their death teaches us to love, respect and make sacrifices for each other,” the Force added.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Rachel Omamo attended the event.
“We will remember you at sunrise, we will remember you at sunset. Your memories will remain imprinted in the hearts and minds of Kenyans,” KDF concluded.