MPs seek answers over El Adde attack

Top army commanders were yesterday grilled by a parliamentary committee on the aftermath of the El Adde attack.

The National Assembly Defence Committee was under fire as it began its probe on what really happened at the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) camp in El Adde, Somalia.

Committee Chairman Ndung'u Gethenji (Tetu) had a difficult time moderating the session as charged legislators took on KDF Chief of Defence Forces Samuel Mwathethe, Head of Military Intelligence Charles Mwai and the commander of operations on their role and preparedness.

Trouble started when the officers declined to respond to the MPs' queries, instead urging them to be patient and wait for an inquiry report they have commissioned to be released.

But the MPs pressed on and at some point the meeting became stormy but the officers remained cool.

“The officers have refused to give information. They are insisting that we wait for a report by the board of inquiry. They have equally declined to disclose the number of those who were at El Adde, how many were killed and those missing,” said a member of the committee who sought anonymity.

Another committee member said: “This meeting did not get any vital information. They could not state whether there was prior information or not before the attack. These officers are very rude and evasive.”

Kenyans are still in the dark on how many KDF soldiers were killed in the El Adde attack, which happened on January 15. Last Tuesday the same committee summoned Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo over the attack.