Kulbiyow deaths surpass KDF number, al Shabaab releases photos<br /><br />
<br /><br />A structure at the KDF camp in Kulbiyow, Somalia, goes up in flames during an attack by al Shabaab terrorists, January 27, 2017.<br /><br />Feb. 01, 2017, 12:00 pm<br />By NANCY AGUTU<br /><br />Al Shabaab militants have released photos of the Kulbiyow base attack, in which at least 16 soldiers were killed, contrary to a report by the military.<br /><br />The photos are of the terrorists moving through the base in Somalia and the property they destroyed. Some of their fighters watched and took the pictures.<br /><br />Equipment belonging to the Kenya Defence Forces, including vehicles, were seen parked at the camp, some with bullet holes.<br /><br />
<br /><br /><i><b>Al Shabaab militants at the KDF camp in Kulbiyow, Somalia during an attack on January 27, 2017. /COURTESY</b></i><br /><br />The terror group linked to al Qaeda placed the number of troops it killed at 66 while KDF reported nine deaths - two soldiers and seven servicemen.<br /><br />Kenyan authorities said only 15 soldiers were injured during the fierce engagement and that they had been evacuated to Nairobi for treatment.<br /><br />Military spokesperson Paul Njunguna said 70 al Shabaab members were killed and scores wounded during the counter-attack.<br /><br />
<br /><br /><i><b>A structure at the KDF camp in Kulbiyow, Somalia, goes up in flames during an attack by al Shabaab terrorists, January 27, 2017. /COURTESY</b></i><br /><br />But the Star is compiling a list of soliders killed. It has 16 names so far:<br /><br /><br /> 1. Kassim Roba - Madogo, Tana River (buried)<br /> 2. Abdalla Aziz- Isiolo (buried)<br /> 3. Mohammed Konchara- Merti (Isiolo) (buried)<br /> 4. Ido Kuno – Isiolo (buried)<br /> 5. Amani Mwinga - buried at Senti Kumi cemetery in Mombasa<br /> 6. Francis Kombo- Mazeras<br /> 7. Gideon Nyabidi- Trans Nzoia<br /> 8. Victor Ilavonga- Vihiga<br /> 9. Juma Mwanguya- Kilifi<br /> 10. Kennedy Bakari- Kilifi<br /> 11. Mohammed Utange (Mombasa)<br /> 12. Rajab Baya- Kilifi<br /> 13. George Ndirangu-<br /> 14. Benson Ntheketha- Mombasa<br /> 15. Josiah Kamau<br /> 16. Captain Silas Ekidor<br /><br />Al Shabaab brags about its killings in photos and videos and is said to exaggerate the number of people it kills in its attacks.<br /><br />After an assault on KDF troops in El Adde on January 15, 2016, the terrorists released harrowing pictures of slain soldiers and released a video.<br /><br />They said the had killed 100 soldiers. The government dismissed the report but did not give details.<br /><br />Since the attack more than a year ago, little is known about the incident termed as the most brutal assault on Kenyan soldiers despite the government's promise of a probe.<br /><br />
<br /><br /><i><b>Vehicles belonging to the Kenya Defence Forces that were destroyed during an attack by al Shabaab terrorist on a camp in Kulbiyow, Somalia, January 27, 2017. /COURTESY</b></i><br /><br />The militants have been fighting for years to impose strict interpretation of Islam on Somalia.<br /><br />The group wants to topple the Western-backed government in Mogadishu and drive out the peacekeeping force made up of soldiers from Kenya, Djibouti, Uganda, Ethiopia and other African countries.<br /><br />African Union and Somali troops have pushed its fighters from major urban strongholds and ports.<br /><br />
Kulbiyow deaths surpass KDF number, al Shabaab releases photos