The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and those of Somalia have have captured Al Shabaab women’s leader in Kismayu port.
Apart from the woman, the troops also arrested 72 suspected militants and recovered an assortment of weapons.
Among those arrested was the woman identified as Marianna Issa Mohammed who was identified by residents of Kismayu as the Al Shabaab women leader.
Her arrest is seen as a boost as the troops race to pacify the city that has been under the rule of the militants for long.
KDF information operations officer Col Cyrus Oguna said the Sunday operation was a success because of the cooperation from the locals.
Col Oguna added the troops also arrested five Al-Shabaab members as they tried to enter Kenya in Kolbio area.
Two KDF soldiers were injured in the exercise after the militants engaged them in a shootout that left three of them killed and two AK 47 rifles and an RPG recovered.
“Economic activities continue to thrive at the Port City with 5 ships carrying foodstuffs and cement docking at the Kismayu Sea Port today,” said Col Oguna in a statement on Tuesday.
He added the UN and WHO representatives visited the area on a fact finding mission and were received warmly by the locals.
The troops took control of Kismayu last month in an operation that has been seen as a success in their efforts to restore order in the war torn country.
The Kenyan troops crossed to Somalia last year in an operation that was aimed at neutralising the militants.
In a related development, police in Wajir intercepted a lorry carrying 400 sacks of sugar from Somalia on Tuesday.
It is believed that the sugar originated from Kismayu long before the troops arrived there and police say they are interrogating three suspects who were transporting it.
By CYRUS OMBATI
Sources The Standard