Nairobi (Sunatimes) Kenyan military on Saturday denied
claims that its killed civilians during the recent air strikes on rebel targets
in parts of Lower Juba.
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) head of operations Colonel
Cyrus Oguna dismissed the claims by international human rights group as
unfounded, saying that they operated within the rules of engagement.
Speaking to journalists during a weekly briefing in
Nairobi on Saturday, Oguna said a professional organisation that respects the
sanctity of life and laws of armed conflict, adding that they even provided
humanitarian assistance to the locals.
Oguna declared on Saturday that they are adhering to
the international humanitarian law through strictly ensuring that no civilians
are directly targeted in the attacks.
Early this week, U.S.-based Human Rights Watch called
on the Kenyan government to investigate the death of as many as 11 civilians
during a Kenyan air force raid on Hosingow village in Somalia on Dec.20.
The rights group said both the Kenyan armed forces and
the armed group Al-Shabaab should take all feasible precautions to minimize
civilian casualties during military operations.
Kenya sent troops into Somalia earlier last October to
pursue Al-Shabaab rebel fighters it accused of spate of kidnappings on its
soil, an accusation denied by Al-Shabaab.
By Fadumo Farah
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Kenya refutes killing civilians in Lower Juba
Speaking to journalists during a weekly briefing in Nairobi on Saturday