Kenya launched an offensive operation against al Shabaab in Somalia named “Operation Linda Nchi” (Operation Protect the Nation) on October 16, 2011.
The pretext for the start of the operation was a series of kidnappings in northern Kenya: on September 11, a British man was killed and his wife kidnapped from a resort in Lamu; on October 1, a French woman was taken from her Kenyan home; and on October 13, two Spanish aid workers were kidnapped from Dadaab refugee camp.
Due to these attacks we (Kenya) decided to send you to Somalia to guard our borders.
It’s never been an easy task for you. You have endured all atrocities in a foreign land because our country needs to be safe; politically & socially-economically.
Dear Friends,
Since the operation started years ago, you’ve stood in the scorching Sun OF Somali-land to ensure our borders were safe.
You stood there at night when the clouds hid the stars, and the darkness seemed to go on forever. You’ve stood there in the morning while most of the country slept on.
You stood there, and you protected us. Your bravery is overwhelming. Your sacrifice is appreciated.
You spent sleepless nights in trenches and endless days in hot tanks. The world tried to push you down but you kept getting up anyway.
You gave up the best years of your life, hiking through valleys of mud and running through minefields.
You threw your body into the line of fire to save your comrades and fought with terrorists’ intent on killing us
The evening of January 16th 2016 will never be forgotten in our country. That fateful night, Al-Shabaab Militants invaded your camp and launched a suicide and gun attack killing more than 100 of you sleeping inside the camp in El Ade, Somalia
You died very painful deaths. That evening, most of you had supper for the last time, some of you called your families back home to tell them you were safe. Lest you didn’t know the ruthless militants were to invade your camp and ambush you.
As I write this article, your families, friends, loved ones and the entire nation is bleeding. Bleeding because they lost you on a battlefield.
We wake up e-v-e-r-y-s-i-n-g-l-e-m-o-r-n-i-n-g to the newfound realization that you are dead.
Dead by gun bullets, dead by grenades, dead by fire, and dead by whatever other means the militants kill you.
We relive the panic and the disbelief that you could already be gone. Gone to where we cannot follow. And yet life — this life, at least — keeps chugging along.
You died while protecting your country. You fought valiantly even though you yourself did not know how much courage you had inside of you. You died so that we could live.
When you left this world, there was a deep gap in our nation. A gap where your smile could no longer be found and your kind words echoed only in our memories.
A terrible gap in your parents’ Wives’ & children’s hearts. A grieving, gap as your friends dial your number by mistake and realize that you will never answer again. You stood at the gate, and you guarded your people.
Today we guard your memory. I remember, and I thank you
