Nairobi (Sunatimes) Kenyan military is set to join the African Union peacekeeping force in Mogadishu once parliament approves it, reports say.

Kenyan Defence Minister Yussuf Hajji is seeking approval of parliament to have Kenya Defence Forces join the African Union Mission in Somalia, local media reports.

Hajji issued a notice of motion seeking approval from member of the parliament to have Kenyan military integrated into the AU force in Somalia after the cabinet approved it Tuesday.

According to the Standard, the minister told parliament on Wednesday that IGAD and the African Union has requested Kenya during the recent extra ordinary session to have her soldiers integrated to AMISOM.

Kenyan deputy Speaker, Farah Maalim, directed that the motion be debated on Thursday in parliament.

Kenyan troops pushed across the border with Somalia into rebel held territory in the south last October, following a string of attacks by Somali gunmen on Kenyan soil.

Nairobi blames Al-Shabaab rebel group for these attacks on its security forces and tourists inside Kenya, and the kidnap of two Spanish aid workers from Dadaab, an accusation Al-Shabaab denied.

By Dahir Alasow