By Cyrus Ombati
The Kenya Defence Forces troops killed more than 50 Al-Shabaab militants in Harbolle town as they proceeded to Kismayu port.
Department of Defence headquarters said the militants had tried to stop the troops from advancing towards the port sparking a deadly clash.
During the 2pm clash, one Somali National Army Soldier killed and seven others including one KDF soldier injured.
Spokesman Col Cyrus Oguna said the dead Somali soldier was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device.
The KDF and AMISOM forces are racing against time to capture Kismayu after taking control of more than 20 regions previously inhabited by Al-Shabaab
"Another town has fallen today (Tuesday) in our advance to Kismayu, atleast 50 Al Shabaab have been killed, we believe they could be more," said Oguna.
Harbolle is few kilometers from the port city, which is part of the ultimate goal of the troops in Somalia.
Last week, Kenyan navy shelled Kismayu, the main Somali city controlled by militant Islamist group Al-Shabaab in an attack aimed at capturing the port.
Al-Shabaab is reinforcing its positions in the city and people are fleeing the town. The port remains some of the few places that the gang controls by most residents are now fleeing.
Last month, Al-Shabaab lost control of Merca, the third biggest port city after Mogadishu and Kismayu, to AU and pro-Somali government forces.
Kenya sent troops to Somalia last year, saying that it wanted Al-Shabaab defeated because the militants threatened its security. Since then, a series of grenade attacks have taken place in the country.
Kenya Defence Forces, fighting under the auspices of Amisom, killed 36 Al-Shabaab militants before capturing Miido town, as part of their advancement towards Kismayu last week.
Five Kenyan soldiers and two others from Somalia’s TFG in Mogadishu were killed.
