Kenya dismisses casualty claims in Kulbiyow base attack

Kenya has rubbished claims that it lost its soldiers in the Kulbiyow military base attack Saturday morning in which the militant group Al-Shabaab alleged it had killed 57 Kenya Defence Force troops.

In a statement to newsrooms, KDF spokesman Paul Njuguna said claims of casualties on its soldiers were a fabrication and should be treated as such.

“It is important to note that the information being peddled by terrorists on social media is false and part of their propaganda,” the statement read in part.

Njuguna noted however KDF had neutralised several Al-Shabaab militants who had tried to access the camp using Suicide Borne Improvised Explosive Device. The force added Kenyan army and Air force were conducting air and land operations in pursuit of the militants.

Multiple reports indicate the militants launched attack at the military base at around 4 am local time engaging the forces who serve under Amisom in fierce fight.

The attack comes a year after a similar deadly attack at El Adde claimed several Kenyan soldiers. Though the Kenyan government has not released any official information on the number of casualties in the January 15, 2016 attack, several sources including from Somali government put the figure at over 150.