Kenyan security forces have pursued and killed more than 100 militants and destroyed their camp in Somalia after the ambush of a Nairobi-bound bus that killed 28, deputy president William Ruto has said.
Somalia’s Islamist al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for yesterday’s attack, when gunmen ordered passengers on the bus to recite Koran verses. It shot dead non-Muslims – 19 men and nine women – who could not do so.
The group said the killing outside Mandera, a town in the far northeast near the Somali and Ethiopian borders, was in retaliation for raids on mosques in the southern port city of Mombasa.
Kenyan police said today that security forces pursued the attackers as they fled to Somalia after the ambush.
Retaliatory action
“Two successful operations were carried out against the perpetrators of these murderous executions across the border. Our retaliatory action left in its trail more than 100 fatalities,” Mr Ruto told a news conference in Nairobi.
Mr Ruto said a camp used by the attackers and four "technicals" – pick-up trucks mounted with guns – were also destroyed. "Our message to them is clear, 'You may sneak and attack innocent civilians. But for any attack on Kenya and its people, we shall pursue you wherever you go'," he said.
A primary school head teacher, who was the only survivor of the massacre, has said he was saved because his would-be killers became confused as he lay waiting to be murdered. Douglas Ochwodho said one gunman shot from the right and one from the left, each killing their victims lying in a line on the ground. They grew closer and closer to Mr Ochwodho, who was in the middle, then the shooting stopped.
Apparently each gunman thought the other had shot Mr Ochwodho, who is not Muslim. He stayed perfectly still until the 20 extremists left.
Mr Ochwodho said the passengers who did not look Somali had been separated from the others. The non-Somali passengers were then asked to recite the Islamic creed declaring oneness with God. Those who could not were ordered to lie down and the massacre began. After the gunmen left, he flagged down a pick-up truck which took him to Mandera.
International condemnation
The attacks drew international condemnation from Somalia, Britain, the US and the
United Nations
.
Former prime minister Raila Odinga called on the government to do more to counter the country's deteriorating security. "When can we expect an end to this desperate state of affairs? Where is the bottom?" Mr Odinga, now an opposition leader, asked in a statement.
Last week, police in Mombasa shot dead one man and arrested almost 400 others when they raided four mosques they said were being used to recruit militants and store weapons.
Al-Shabaab killed at least 67 people in a gun and grenade raid on a Nairobi shopping mall last September, saying it was revenge for attacks on its fighters by Kenyan troops in Somalia.
That and other attacks in the past year on the coast and in Nairobi have prompted Western nations to issue travel warnings, hitting the tourism industry.
Experts have blamed poor command structures and intelligence sharing for Kenya’s problems fighting the militants in the past, but Mr Ruto said improved coordination had assured the success of the weekend raid against the attackers.
Reuters/PA