Why a short campaign is better than a long one in Somalia

The President and the Prime Minister have come out strongly to justify why Kenya should conduct military operations in Somalia against the terror group, al Shabaab. Given that this is the first time that Kenya is carrying out hostile operations on foreign soil, the delay in the political leadership in making this statement remains unexplained, but we will take what we can. However, even in their various and varied statements, the politicians have failed to give a credible explanation of the political goals of Operation: Linda Nchi to date.

Regardless of their political affiliations, Kenyans are united in wishing victory for the Kenya Defence Forces. The peaceniks have been silenced in the face of continued provocations from al Shabaab and elements aiming to copy them in their tactics against Kenya. Ever since Kenyans were the victims of the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi, it has been a matter of time before our patience ran thin and we took unilateral action against the terrorist groups operating in and out of Somalia. They have become a threat to the peace and security of Kenya, and their recent forays into parts of Kenya's coastal belt and the Capital City have only strengthened the resolve of our government to respond in kind. However, opinion continues to be divided over whether the operation should be short or prolonged long enough to eliminate the threat against this country.

If Kenya decides to become an occupying force in Somalia, then we must be prepared to bear the economic costs of such an occupation. Even a short operation carries with it the risk of escalation, causing anxiety in the capital markets and delaying much needed private investment in the private sector. The lessons that the United States and its NATO allies have learnt from the two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should dissuade Kenya from becoming militarily entangled in Somalia beyond six months.

A longer occupation of that war-torn country will drain much-needed public resources from the country, resources needed to not only prepare Kenya for the complete transition to a new constitutional dispensation but also from other much-needed areas, such poverty alleviation and food and water security. Therefore, it is imperative that the political leadership provide Kenyans with assurances that a credible exit strategy has been formulated. Continued public information of the aims and objectives of the government is necessary to alleviate the fears engendered every time a nation goes to war. The President and Prime Minister must take this to heart or they may lose the public goodwill so necessary to sustain the military operation.