This archive report was first published on 3 August 2019.
Kenya's military presence in Somalia has been a crucial component of the African Union's (AU) efforts to combat the Al Shabaab insurgency. As part of this mission, the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) have established a medical facility in the town of Dhobley, which serves as a referral hospital for both Kenyan and Somali soldiers, as well as local civilians.
Dr. Solomon Muriithi Wahome, a consultant neurosurgeon with the KDF, has been working at the facility since February 2019. He has treated over 85 patients, including soldiers who have been injured in explosions and locals with a range of ailments.
One of the patients at the facility is Daudi Abdi, a 34-year-old Somali soldier who was injured in a roadside bomb attack three months ago. Abdi is recovering from a gunshot wound to his leg, which has left him with a painful itch and a lingering sense of vulnerability.
Despite the dangers posed by the insurgency, the KDF's medical team remains committed to providing care to those in need. As Dr. Wahome notes, 'even in the ward, the deadly enemy has been known to sneak in at the most unexpected time, and so the scalpel and the bayonet are never far away.'
However, the KDF's mandate goes beyond simply providing medical care. As Brigadier Dickson Ruto, the commander of the Kenyan troops in Somalia, explains, 'our mandate's strategic task is to see Somalia take over all state institutions by December 2021.'
To achieve this goal, the KDF is working to create a stable and secure environment in which Somali institutions can flourish. This includes renovating schools, drilling boreholes, and engaging in road engineering to create supply routes and expand existing roads.
Major General Nakibus Lakara, the commander of the 4,000-strong Amisom troops in Somalia, acknowledges that completely wiping out the insurgency is a difficult task. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic that the AU's efforts will ultimately lead to peace and stability in Somalia.
As the international community continues to support the AU's mission in Somalia, the KDF's medical facility in Dhobley remains a vital hub of humanitarian activity. By providing care to those in need, the KDF is helping to build trust and confidence in the Somali people, and laying the groundwork for a more stable and secure future.
