Over 60 pct Kenyans agree to deploy troops in Somalia to fight terrorism: survey

Majority of Kenyans supports deployment of troops to Somalia to help root out Al-Shabaab militants responsible for spreading terror in the region, a survey launched on Wednesday reveals.

The survey which was conducted by a Pan African research network, Afrobarometer and the University of Nairobi's Institute of Development Studies (IDS) indicates that 66 percent of Kenyans support military incursion into Somalia.

"Kenyans have narrowed their differences when it comes to safeguarding the nation's security and stability in the face of external threats. There is overwhelming support for military action inside Somalia to avert terror attacks," Professor Winnie Mitullah, the Director, University of Nairobi's IDS told journalists in Nairobi.

The Kenyan troops deployed in 2011 in southern Somalia, have been motivated to view the warfare against the Al-Shabaab as a once in a lifetime opportunity to defeat extremists who have constituted a threat to the entire security, economy and a threat to regional and international peace.

The deployment of the Kenyan troops in the southern regions have so far helped to prevent the movement of explosives to the strategic towns of Husingo and Badhade, the conduit points for the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), the counterfeit electronics and contraband sugar smuggling across the region.

Military officials said these regions are crucial to the stabilization of Kenya's coastal and northeastern provinces, which have been targeted by attackers preying on soft civilian targets.

The latest Afro barometer survey focused on citizen's attitude towards devolution and the involvement of Kenyan troops in Somalia.

Conducted between November and December 2014, the survey involved 2,397 respondents drawn from all Kenyan counties.

According to the survey findings, Kenyans support functional security apparatus to help combat terrorism and transnational crimes.

The survey revealed that Kenyans were evenly divided on whether the country's troops should be withdrawn from Somalia.

"Women and senior citizens feel the troops are exposed to harm and should be recalled. A significant portion of the populace stated that extending the mandate of troops in Somalia served our national security interests," Mitullah said.

The Kenyan political class is divided on the wisdom of sending troops to Somalia to fight insurgents.

A section of the opposition has supported the withdrawal of Kenya defense forces from Somalia to minimize terror attacks.

The government has reiterated that troops will remain in Somalia until the Horn of Africa state is stabilized.

The latest Afro barometer survey indicated that politicians have not swayed citizens` attitude towards deployment of troops in Somalia.

According to the survey, Kenyans support innovative measures like community policing to strengthen the war against terror.

Al-Shabaab militants have vowed reprisal attacks in the country, mainly targeting security forces in border towns of northern Kenya where dozens of people have been killed in landmine and grenade attacks blamed on the militant group.

Al-Shabaab has said it views the presence of Kenyan troops in southern Somalia as an act of war.

The group which has teamed up with global terror network al Qaida is now vowing an all-out war in Kenya, in protest against the military incursion "against our brothers in Somalia. Endi