Kenya pushes to have a combative Amisom

Kenya wants the mandate of African Union (AU) Peace Keepers in Somalia to include dealing with terrorist activities head on, Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula has said.

The minister, who is accompanying President Kibaki at the 15th AU Summit in Munyonyo, Uganda, said there was need for the international community to change tact in the way it has viewed Somalia.

"There is no way you expect the African Union troops to enter Somalia with their hands in the pockets and still face Kalashnikovs wielded by Al-Shabaab militia," he added.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the conference, Mr Wetang’ula said Kenya’s position was that the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) must not only be allowed to keep peace but they must also be allowed to enforce the same.

—By Martin Mutua in Uganda