Four Kenya Defence Forces personnel who were injured when Al-Shabaab militants attacked their base in Somalia were flown to Nairobi on Sunday aboard two private jets.

The four male soldiers were received by the Chief of Defence Forces Gen Samson Mwathethe, Army Commander Lieutenant General Leonard Ngondi, Kenya Airforce Commander Samuel Thuita and Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo.

The four were rescued from Somalia after they had walked for kilometers away from their El-Adde camp in Gedo where the attack took place on Friday morning.

Three of the soldiers walked unassisted from the plane to waiting ambulances while the fourth one had to be carried on a stretcher. Officials said he had severe injuries on the waist.

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Ms Omamo pleaded for patience as personnel continue to conduct a search, rescue and recovery operation in the area. She said many soldiers are still missing after the attack that happened at about 4 am.

“We are pleading with you, friends, relatives and all concerned parties to be patient with us. Our soldiers are still on the ground for a search and rescue mission,” she said.

Gen Mwathethe said three vehicles loaded with explosives were used in the attack. The attacks were followed with suicide bombers who detonated the explosives on the Kenyan soldiers.

The CDF revealed that during the Friday attack, three vehicles loaded with explosives and several suicide bombers attacked the Amisom base at El-Adde in Gedo region of Jubaland in Somalia.

The military boss said the search, rescue and recovery operation was ongoing for soldiers who escaped the attack.

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“The attack was carried out by terrorists using vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED) commandeered by suicide bombers,” said Gen Mwathethe.

He added that both the KDF and Somali National Army camps in the area were hit in the simultaneous attacks.