The missing links in Kenya’s hostage rescue operations

Kenya: Hours after gruesome attack on Garissa University Collage on Thursday, 2nd April 2015, al Shabaab that described itself as a waging jihadists against ‘enemies’ of Islam – claimed the responsibility of killing over 70 Kenyans and still holding up an unknown number of students as hostages.

The attack occurred when gunmen invaded the university at around 5.30 am, killing two guards before proceeding to a lecture hall where members of Christian Union were conducting morning prayers. “There are usually four guards at the campus gates overnight,” Jackstone Kweyu, Dean of Students told Journalists. The attackers then proceeded to the hostels where they again mercilessly massacred the students on sight.

At some point, the attackers cornered over 360 students in a hostel, but many of them still managed to escape either unhurt or with serious gunshots. One police officer got shot as they matched in to save the situation. Armed with just light G3 and AK47 rifles – with no protective gears like bulletproof vests, the nearby police could not match the destructive nature of the militia, and they opted to call for reinforcement.

Several minutes into the battle, combined Kenyan Forces managed to clear three of the four hostels and had cornered al Shabaab militants in the last hostel where they were holding up a number of students as hostages.

The security personnel then went to the drawing-board, to craft strategies on how to rescue the students from the hand of militants. Maybe, after a long deliberation, the forces including Kenyan Military resolved to face the enemy. At the end of the day, Cabinet Secretary in charge of Internal Security, Joseph Nkaissery termed the operation as being ‘successful.’ Of course, at least 147 people had been killed by the militants.

While addressing Journalists after the siege, Nkaissery condoled with the families of those who perished in the attack. “I send my personal condolences to the families of those who have died in the attack”, the CS said.

The agony of hostages in terror attacks

Garissa University Massacre is the deadliest since the bombing of US Embassy in Nairobi in 1998, and it’s still worse than 2013 Westgate Attack.

Kenya has had numerous attacks since the time when Kenyan Military made an incursion into Somalia, on 16th October 2011. The most excruciating attacks being the Westgate, Mpeketoni and now, the Garissa University Attack which claimed 147 lives.

It’s also important to note that the entire world is facing terror challenges. The same kind of savage attack has been employed against other nations like the US (Hollywood Hostage Rescue), Iranian Embassy in London (1980), Philippines, Tunisia (2015), and Moscow among other hostage takings like Entebbe Hostage Rescue and SAS Jungle Hostage Rescue.

In all these rescue operations, somehow, they have met massive challenges which have led to the death of rescuers, hostages and even the attackers. The most intriguing factor is the ability of the rescuers to help save many people’s lives.

Case Study: Iranian Embassy Rescue Mission

A case in point is the Iranian Embassy Rescue operation in London, in which - over the following days, police negotiators secured the release of five hostages in exchange for minor concessions, such as the broadcasting of the hostage-takers' demands on British television.

After six days of frustrations, the gunmen killed one hostage – prompting the British government to order Special Air Service (SAS) to rescue the remaining captives. The Special Forces regiment of the British Army put a simple assault plan – to abseil from the roof of the building and forced entry through the windows.

In literally a matter of 17 minutes, the SAS managed to rescue all the hostages with an exception of one. The Force also killed the five of the six terrorists who had tied explosives on themselves and their hostages. There are several similar examples from other countries in hostage rescue missions from across the world.

Futile Kenyan rescue efforts

When al Shabaab took several students hostages at Garissa University College, the hope was that it would not turn out like Westgate Rescue effort that left over 60 people dead. It is alleged that the Westgate rescue mission was mishandled and burgled by the Kenya Defence Forces that took the command of the operation from the police. Even though Kenya police officers had corned the Westgate attackers on one side of the building, it’s believed that they were ordered out of the command by the military – leading to lose of direction and tussle. In the process, a member of Special Unit in the Kenya Police Service, The Recce Squad was shot dead. The military personnel were also blamed for allegedly looting from the Westgate shops.

Since the time when Kenya started receiving attacks from al Shabaab, the Kenyan security personnel have made great progress in evacuating the victims, but have performed very poorly in rescuing hostages who have been entombed by the attackers.

Does it mean that Kenyan security personnel don’t have the requisite knowledge in rescue operations in the glaring attacks from terrorists? If they have, what makes it so difficult for them to save hostages from terrorists?

According to Security Analyst, Mwanda Mbijiwe, “Kenyan rescue operations normally have problems in three key points; at the response time, at the command and in the equipment being used.”

Logically, Search and Rescues are developed within a Military Science scheme known as Search and Rescue Optimal Planning Systems (SAROPS) that provide details on the amount of time to be taken before and within a search and rescue mission.

SAROPS has got three main technical factors that must be considered for a successful rescue mission: Graphical User Interface (GUI), the Environmental Data Server (EDS) and the Simulator (SIM). Each of these components can be used to locate, identify and prompt a rescue mission.

In Kenya, Special Unit of the Kenya Police, the Recce Squad is the one that has the requisite knowledge of handling major rescue missions against the terrorists. As well, such a special unit also exist within the Kenyan military – but there are missing links in such operations.

Missing links in Kenyan rescue missions

The general members of the Kenya Police Service are ill-equipped to handle major rescue missions. Kenyan police officers’ conduct their daily duties in the ordinary uniform without safety gears like armored vehicles, powerful guns, surveillance camera and choppers and bulletproof vests. This makes police officers to heavily rely on the military officers who virtually have got every equipment, except, the necessary knowledge for such operations.

It doesn’t mean that Kenyan military officers do not have knowledge in rescue; all it means is that, the military’s special unit that is trained for rescue and evacuation has very few members and they cannot be everywhere, anytime. The general members of KDF are therefore expected to act before their arrival.

While these mishaps about which force to take on an operation continue, the enemy gets position and continue to destroy lives.

During Westgate Attack, one of the biggest problems was in the command system, especially after the arrival of the military that demanded the command protocol from the police. It’s widely accepted that internal rescues should be commanded and conducted by the police while being supported by the military. The delay in response time can only work to the advantage of the terrorist. “The government should devolve security system to the counties. Suppose, Garissa was attack and at the same time, other towns got attacked….how does the government handle such a situation,” suggested Mwanda Mbijiwe.

Most of the special units of the police and military reside within the capital city. When an attack happens in the remote parts of the town, it takes a lot of minutes and sometimes even hours before the enemies can be neutralized.

The Recce Squad of the Kenya Police managed to neutralize al Shabaab militants within 12 minutes of their arrival – at around 7.20pm on 2nd April 2015, but the damage that started at 5.30am was already massive. At least, 147 people died in the Garissa University Attack. Will Kenya ever learn from these?