By BONIFACE GIKANDI

Nairobi,Kenya:Families of soldiers who died in the line of duty during the recent Operation Linda Nchi in Somalia claim the Government has ‘forgotten’ them.

They say the compensation for their loved ones killed in action during the operation by the Kenya Defence Forces has taken too long, despite assurance from senior military officials that they would be assisted to move on with lives.

It was clear from those who spoke to The Standard that, having been deprived of their breadwinners, the families were waiting for the Government assistance with open arms.

Some even confessed they have been forced to change lifestyles like moving their children from private to public schools.

Mrs Bernice Wachu Gitau is one of widows trying to make ends meet after the cruel hand of death robbed her of her husband and sole breadwinner during the operation.

Since the high-profile burial that was attended by the upper echelons of the military, she says, the promises of help have just remained that — promises.

The resident of Mung’etho village in Nanyuki, has been struggling to bring up her family following the death of her husband Willie Njoroge Gitau of 1st Battalion.

The family received part payment of Sh600,000 from Department of Defence six months after the death but they are still waiting for the next pay cheque.

Not enough

Wachu, a mother of three, says the family receives a paltry Sh6,500 from the military every month. “The Sh4,000 is for the spouse while each child is allocated Sh500 to facilitate their education. Is this really enough?”

The family cannot also access Sh104,000 Gitau had saved with Harambee Sacco on grounds he had guaranteed a colleague a loan.

The widow criticised Parliament over “failure to push for the compensation of the soldiers”.

Department of Defence, through its spokesman Bogita Ongeri, attributed the delay in paying out the compensation to what he termed as ‘involving internal process’, which is being employed to ensure transparency.

Ongeri said in total, the department has disbursed Sh25 million to families of 22 soldiers who died in Somalia. The compensation paid ranges between Sh1.7 million and Sh9.7 million depending on the outlined criteria, Ongeri said.