Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced that more than 4,000 Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops under the African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia (Atmis) will leave the neighbouring country by December next year.
The CS, who appeared before the Senate on Wednesday to answer questions on his ministry, said the withdrawal of Atmis, formerly the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), is already underway and will be done in phases.
He said KDF officers are serving under Atmis through the AU Peace and Security Council with the approval of the United Nations Security Council.
Mr Duale, however, declined to reveal the number of KDF soldiers who lost their lives during the mission, which began in 2012, although he said the government had put in place compensation packages for affected families.
He said the drawdown of troops began in April last year and the plan will end on 31 December 2024 as part of the ongoing Atmis phase-out strategy, which aims to gradually transfer security responsibilities to the Somali Security Forces under the Somalia Transition Plan.
"The last troops are expected to leave Somalia on 31 December 2024 as per the AU and UN Security Council resolution and plan," said Mr Duale.
He noted that the decision of Kenyan troops to leave Somalia depends on several factors, including the progress of the Atmis mandate and the prevailing security and political conditions in Somalia.
However, he said the first phase of the drawdown had already been completed, with a total of 2,000 Atmis troops leaving in June 2023.
This included 400 troops each from Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia, 600 from Burundi and 200 from Djibouti.
He said the second phase of the plan to withdraw 3,000 troops was scheduled for 30 September, when Kenya was to withdraw 754 security officers, including 600 KDF and 154 other officers serving in various categories.
However, the plan has been technically paused pending a decision by the AU and UN on a request by the Somali Federal Government for a three-month extension, which Mr Duale said would only be granted if the AU or UN councils agreed.
"This extension is because the Somali government and Somali security forces are currently engaged in a serious war with Al Shabaab in the central part of Somalia," he said.
The CS said the third phase of the drawdown strategy would begin on October 1and last until June 2024, when a total of 4,000 KDF troops would be withdrawn.
He explained that the last phase, which is the final withdrawal, will take place between July 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024.
Mr Duale explained that during the fourth phase, all remaining Atmis troops from Kenya and other troop-contributing countries will leave Somalia.
"If there is a change of plan, it is not the decision of the Government of Kenya but the decision of the AU Peace and Security Council and the UN Security Council," he said.
However, the CS warned that Kenya's complete withdrawal from Somalia would depend on the country's national security interests.
"We will analyse the post-Atmis withdrawal keeping in mind the national security interest of our country. Any decision to withdraw KDF from Somalia should be in the best interest of the country as far as our national security interest is concerned," the CS said.
Mr Duale was responding to concerns raised by Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute on whether there were plans to withdraw Kenyan troops from Atmis, who asked the CS to indicate the timelines for such a plan as he questioned the continued presence of KDF officers in Somalia.
"Is it not prudent for the KDF to guard our borders and not be in Somalia? Mogadishu is now safer than Mandera, Tana River and Garissa," said Senator Chute.
But CS Duale dismissed the claims, saying Kenya's border was safer than Kismayu or Mogadishu.
"The days of al-Shabaab in Somalia and in our region are coming to an end. I want to commit myself and make that commitment to this House," he said.
He explained that Atmis' mandate is guided by AU and UN Security Council resolutions and aims to reduce the threat posed by Al Shabaab and other armed groups and to ensure a secure environment in Somalia.
"We ended up in Somalia primarily because our national security interest was threatened by Al Shabaab and other terrorist groups that have found sanctuary in Somalia and the Horn of Africa," he said.
The CS said Kenya's involvement in Atmis was twofold: a commitment to protect national security interests and to participate in regional peace, security and stability as Kenya is an anchor state in the region.
He said the benefits accrued include combating Al Shabaab and terrorist groups to stabilise Somalia and ensure a safe and secure region, with KDF officers contributing to the reduction of terrorist infrastructure within Kenya's borders and the region.
"Our national security interest compels us to stabilise Somalia so that the 800km border with Somalia is safe and secure," he said.
Mr Duale said Kenya's tourism sector was dying on the coast and trade through the Indian Ocean was severely affected by maritime piracy, leading to the country's invasion of Somalia in 2012.
"We wanted to protect our country, our citizens and our economy. In order for us to have sustainable economic growth, we have to have security. Promoting regional stability was important because a stable Somalia is critical for the development of the region and the greater Horn of Africa," said the CS.
However, he acknowledged that such operations have unintended consequences, including deaths, injuries and destruction of property.
Mr Duale said the KDF and Kenyans had suffered casualties over the years, including loss of life, but the government could not release the exact number of injuries and deaths for security reasons.
He, however, assured the senators that every incident is properly documented and families are promptly informed.
"I would ask that I do not provide statistics on casualties and injuries for publication, as our main concern is that this will be used as a propaganda tool by our enemies and terrorists," he said.
On compensation, support and welfare for the affected soldiers and their survivors, the CS said the families who lost their loved ones are entitled to a compensation package that includes financial support, which is paid promptly within three weeks.
"Each soldier gets Sh4 million over and above his pension, which includes the death gratuity. However, if you served in Atmis, the AU and UN give $50,000 on top of the Sh4 million from the government," he said.
The CS, however, says there are delays when families don't agree on who should get the compensation, with the disputes making the compensation take longer.
In addition, he said, there is support for families, focusing on widows, orphans, dependants and disabled service personnel.
There is also extensive counselling and psychological support to help service personnel and families cope with loss and grief, as well as the establishment of a comprehensive network of welfare centres staffed by trained social workers and counsellors.
"Every person who loses their life in the service is honoured and accorded military burial rites, memorial services are held and medals of honour are awarded posthumously as appropriate," CS Duale said.
