How to honour our troops

My friend Eric is a combat helicopter pilot. I don't fear for his safety; he is rather good at flying in combat situations. I won't dishonour him or his fighting family by starting a hashtag in their honour. I am incapable of demonstrating that I stand by them without actually donning the uniform and standing post with his comrades. He has chosen to serve in the defence forces and I wish him, as I have always, blue skies and clear horizons and when they are unavailable, a steely resolve and precise fire.

I don't have a problem with Eric flying combat missions in Somalia, whether as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM, or not. He will follow all lawful orders handed down the chain of command without question; that is the oath he has taken. I will not call him names when there is collateral damage; there is no situation during combat where innocents are spared. (For context, look no further than what the USA and the UK did to Dresden during the Second World War. In four raids between 13 and 15 February 1945, 722 heavy bombers of the British Royal Air Force and 527 of the United States Army Air Forces dropped more than 3,900 tons of high-explosive bombs and incendiary devices on the city. The bombing and the resulting firestorm destroyed over 1,600 acres of the city centre. An estimated 22,700 to 25,000 people were killed.)

 

But I am not blind to the allegations made against the high command of the defence forces, nor am I unconcerned about the continued presence of the defence forces in Somalia. The Kenya Defence Forces have a solid reputation when deployed on UN peacekeeping missions of professionalism and courage. They have a less stellar reputation when deployed against the civilian population; Wagalla and Mt Elgon remain blemishes against their reputation. Now that they have been in theatre since 2011, it is time to ask whether their continued deployment continues to serve the national interest or not. Jingoistic responses to this question serve no one.

When al Shabaab escalated its attacks in Kenya by abducting and murdering foreign tourists, Kenya had to respond. Operation: Linda Nchi was the response. When it wound down and Kenya joined a multi-state AMISOM, few Kenyans understood why or questioned the rationale. Kenya's defence forces deployment in AMISOM did not prevent the four-day Westgate Siege, the Mpeketoni Attacks, the Marsabit Massacres or the Garissa University College Massacre by al Shabaab. There are indications that the National Police Service has foiled many more al Shabaab attacks in the homeland. 

 

The recent attack on a Kenya Defence Forces forward operating base in Somalia at El Adde and the killing of Kenyan troops raises questions about Kenya's deployment as part of AMISOM in Somalia. Asking questions about this deployment is not being disloyal to honourable Kenyans who have given their lives while serving in uniform. It is not necessary for Kenyans to lose their lives in combat to prove their loyalty, but once they do, it is our patriotic duty to ask whether they lost their lives in vain. There are those who do not see this distinction and it is their blindness that truly dishonours our men and women under arms.