A contingent of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers has returned home following their withdrawal from the fight against the Al Shabaab extremist group in Somalia.
The soldier who served under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), withdrew from the mission as part of the drawdown plan struck by the participating nations.
In a statement, KDF explained that the partial withdrawal of forces will help Somalia's government assume full responsibility for its security.
The soldiers landed at Embakasi Garrison on Thursday, January 26 and they were welcomed by General Officer Commanding Eastern Command Major General Juma Mwinyikayi.
Juma applauded the soldiers for their professionalism during the Somalia mission.
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“We are proud of you for completing your mission and may you continue to display a high level of discipline as you resume your duties in various deployments,” Juma stated.
He added that the troops will undergo routine post-deployment counselling programs for a swift transition back to their day-to-day lives.
The rest of the soldiers are expected to return to the country by December 2024 marking the end of their mission which started in October 2011.
Their deployment followed a series of attacks staged by the Al Shabaab terror group in the region.
In March 2012, the operation was declared complete but the troops remained and joined AMISOM, an initiative of the African Union.
African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) which replaced AMISOM has been in operation since April 2022.
The planned exit of the troops is an implementation of the Somali Transition Plan (STP). Somalia has 20,000 soldiers who will take over the operation.
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