l-Shabaab... Harakat ash-Shabaab al-Mujahidin aka the Mujahideen Youth Movement. It was originally the youth movement of the Islamic Courts, now pretty much all of what's left of it. They are aligned with al-Qaeda but operate more like the Afghan or Pakistani Taliban. The organization's current leader is Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad, also known as Ibrahim
al-Afghani. Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, a Kenyan al-Qaeda member, is considered the group's military leader...
in Somalia.
Major-General Leonard Ngondi, a special forces officer described by colleagues as brilliant and a strategist, has been given the task of ridding the country of the menace caused by the jihad boy group blamed for fanning insecurity in the Horn of Africa.
Slightly built and standing just about five feet tall, Maj-Gen Ngondi is not your typical military commander.
But behind the diminutive figure is a highly decorated and battle hardened soldier, the Sunday Nation has learnt in interviews with officers who have worked with him.
As the overall commander of the Kenyan troops, Maj-Gen Ngondi's main task is to ensure Al-Shabaab are defeated and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) installed in parts of Southern Somalia.
Kenyan troops have already captured a majority of the Al- Shabaab strongholds in Southern Somalia but the ultimate aim is to seize the two key towns of Afmadow and Kismayu which serve as the jihad boys' headquarters.
Described by a retired Kenya Army Commander who mentored him as a "rather soft and compassionate character", Gen Ngondi's military capabilities have been exhibited during the last few days.
Upon learning that the Al- Shabaab gunnies were using the Baidoa airstrip to ship in weapons which they intend to use against his troops, Gen Ngondi banned aircraft from landing at the airstrip.
"All aircraft are hereby warned not to land in Baidoa. Anyone violating this will be doing so at their peril," warned the man his comrades in the military describe as usually polite.
The terse statement uncharacteristic of the man also went ahead to warn that the Kenya military would bring down any aircraft hovering over the Southern Somalia skies near his troops' bases.
"On two occasions, KDF have observed an aircraft overfly our troops in the three sectors. The owners of the aircraft are hereby warned that KDF considers this as a security violation. Further unauthorised overflying on the said region will be considered a threat," he warned in communication sent out to the media by Major Emmanuel Chirchir.
The commander also warned that his troops would not tolerate the sight of donkeys along the Kenya/Somalia border as the Al-Shabaab were now using the beasts of burden to move weapons due to impassable roads as a result of the heavy rains pounding the region.
"Currently, Somalia is receiving heavy rainfall making the roads impassable. Information reaching us confirms that Al-Shabaab has resorted to using donkeys to transport their weapons," he stated before warning: "Thus, any large concentration and movement of loaded donkeys will be considered as Al-Shabaab activity. In addition we are also reliably informed that the cost of donkeys has risen from $150 to $200 for a donkey. Kenyans dealing in donkey trade along the Kenya-Somali border are advised not to sell their animals to Al-Shabaab as it would undermine our efforts in Somalia."
Boasting a 33-year experience in the military, Gen Ngondi has risen within the ranks to head the Eastern Command of the Kenya Army.
Born in 1960, Gen Ngondi joined the military in 1978 and had only served three years when elements within the Kenya Air Force attempted to overthrow the Government of then President Daniel Moi, an episode which led to a major purge in the country's armed forces.