The board of inquiry formed to probe what really happened during the attack on the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) camp in El Adde, has started its work amid claims of betrayal.
Preliminary findings showed the local clan might have played a role in the attack’s planning and execution. The Marehan clan lives in the El Adde, Gedo region where the camp was.
It emerged three soldiers who had escaped the massacre and hidden in a village elder’s house were hunted down by Al Shabaab and lynched, together with the host, after being allegedly betrayed by the villagers.
“The Marehan clan feels KDF has been working to help the Ogaden and other clans seen as their rivals and that is what we think drove some of them to betrayal,” said a source who asked not to be named.
The soldiers had apparently ran for almost five kilometres after removing their military uniform before ending up at the elder’s home where they were shielded for a while.
The militants attacked the military base at dawn on January 15 killing more than 100 soldiers, stole military ware and held other KDF soldiers hostage. Sources said the attack might have been planned for days and there was no way it could occur without the local clan’s knowledge.