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President Uhuru Kenyatta receives a bouquet of flowers from an Ethiopian girl on arrival at Bahir Dar International Airport to attend the Tana High Level Forum on Security in Africa, on April 18, 2015
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday said Kenya will not pull its troops from Somalia until the country is peaceful and stable.
The President said Kenya will continue to work with other countries under the African Mission in Somalia.
He said the recent attacks by Al-Shabaab would not scare Kenya from performing its role in the fragile country.
Speaking during the Tana High-Level Forum on Security held in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, which brought together Eastern Africa Heads of State, the President said the country had suffered deadly attacks from the terrorist group recently but promised not to bow to their demands.
Kenya sent its troops to Somalia in 2011 following attacks by Al-Shabaab at the coast.
The opposition and civil society want the troops to come home. The calls increased following the April 2 attack on Garissa University College that killed 142 students and six security officers dead. The attack has been condemned worldwide.
This process must go hand in hand with restoration of Somalia to stability that guarantees its security and that of its neighbours. We must pay close attention to developments leading up to 2016, Mr Kenyatta told the meeting called to find ways to stem rising insecurity in the region.
Mr Kenyatta assured the meeting that Kenya would stay united. Kenyans remain steadfastly committed to the values of diversity, freedom of association and religion. The country has remained peaceful and non-threatening to any Muslim, he said..
Source: daily nation