KDF to mark one year since Somalia invasion

Kenya Defence Force will hold the first commemoration ceremony since the incursion to Somalia at the 10th Engineers Nanyuki Garrison.

According to a press release issued by the Director of Public Communications, Ministry of Defence, Mr Bogita Ongeri, October 14 would from now on be a special day for the forces.

“It will be a day to celebrate and remembering the contributions present and past of those who served or continue to serve in the Kenya Defence Force diligently,” Ongeri said.

Defence Minister, Yusuf Haji will preside over the celebrations.

Officers back from active service in the war against Al Shabaab in Somalia will narrate their experiences in active combat, said the press release. 

Similar celebrations will be held at the KDF Headquarters, Moi Air Base-Eastleigh, Manda Naval Base, Lamu, Gilgil and Kahawa Garrisons.

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Minn. witness describes early al-Shabab recruiting

A Minnesota man who traveled to Somalia to enlist in the terrorist group al-Shabab has identified the person he says first attempted to persuade him to join up.

Salah Osman Ahmed is testifying in the federal trial in Minneapolis of Mahamud Said (mah-hah-MOOD' sy-EED') Omar, who is accused of helping Americans travel to Somalia.

The trial is shedding light on the way recruiting worked. Ahmed named Abdiweli Yassin Isse (EE'-say) as an early recruiting leader. Ahmed says Isse is one of the people who first began talking in 2007 about traveling to Somalia, and how Americans would go to paradise if they fought Ethiopian soldiers seen by many Somalis as invaders.

Authorities say more than 20 young men have gone to Somalia from Minnesota, and at least six have died.

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Somalia Detains 300 Suspected Al-Shabaab Members

Somali National Army(SNA) have detained at least 300 suspected Al Shabab members in Mogadishu, the biggest mass arrest for months in the capital, police official said.

General Mohamed Hassan Maalin, the police chief of Benadir region for Somali government told reporters in Mogadishu that the massive operation was conducted in villages in Hodon district, to protect attacks in the capital by Al shabab militants.

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