Kenya troops 'planning Somalia exit next year'

There is a plan for Kenyan troops to leave Somalia by December next year, local newspaper Daily Nation has reported, citing a new book by just retired military chief Samson Mwathethe.

The exit plan includes first ensuring the Somali army can take over security from the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), which is also made up of troops from Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Burundi.

The strategy cites the creation of a buffer zone free of fighters from the al-Shabab militant group along the Kenya-Somalia border.

The process will involve “surveillance, trenches, roads and chain-link fences”.

Kenya has suffered frequent attacks on its soil by al-Shabaab since the country sent troops to Somalia in 2011 to fight the militant group.