Kenya Defence Forces troops serving in Dhobley Forward Operating Base under AMISOM, conducted joint weapons training with the Somali Security Forces. – By Gerald Gekara.
The training culminated in live firing at a shooting range. The routine mentorship and training exercises are vital in building the capacity of the SSF, in the fight against the outlawed Al-Shabaab.
Major William Juma of KDF underscored the pivotal role of such continuous joint exercises.
“We go beyond mentorship and training to conducting joint operations with our brothers, the Somali Security Forces, all of which gives us synergy in the fight against Al Shabaab while equally ensuring no vacuum will be left upon pull out of AMISOM troops,” he said.
The troops are in Somalia under the Operation Linda Nchi, where the Kenya Defence Forces entered southern Somalia beginning in 2011.
The Kenyan government declared the operation completed in March 2012, but its forces joined AMISOM in Somalia and are not expected to leave before 2020.
However, their stay has been extended after renewed insurgence of the al-Qaeda backed militia, who want control over government.
