LAMU, KENYA — The United States government has announced a substantial cash reward of Ksh 1.3 billion, equivalent to (approximately $10 million), for individuals who can provide information leading to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for the 2020 terrorist attack on the Manda Bay Airfield in Lamu, Kenya.
According to a statement released on Wednesday, May 8th, by the U.S. Embassy in Somalia, among the primary suspects sought is Abdullahi Banati, identified as a key planner of the assault. The U.S. government is urging anyone with relevant information to contact the U.S. Department of State via secure communication channels such as Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp at +1-202-975-9160.
The reward is being offered through the Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, a long-standing initiative administered by the Diplomatic Security Service.
Over the past four decades, this program has disbursed Ksh 32 billion ($250 million) to individuals who have provided crucial intelligence aiding in the reinforcement and protection of U.S. national security.
The U.S. government assures that any information shared will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
“The US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, which is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Abdullahi Banati or any other individual responsible for the January 5, 2020, terrorist attack on US and Kenyan personnel at the Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya,” the statement read.
The Manda Bay Airfield, a facility within a Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) military base utilized by both Kenyan and U.S. troops for training and counterterrorism support to East African partners, as well as crisis response and the protection of U.S. interests in the region, was attacked at dawn on Sunday, January 5, 2020, by the Somalia-based extremist group.
During the assault, the group targeted the base’s airstrip, using Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) against U.S. aircraft and vehicles parked there. Police reports indicated that the four-hour attack resulted in damage to two fixed-wing aircraft (one U.S. Cessna and one Kenyan), two U.S. helicopters, and U.S. vehicles.
The U.S. government further reported that the attack tragically claimed the lives of one U.S. service member and two U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contractors. Additionally, two U.S. soldiers, one DoD contractor, and a Kenyan soldier sustained injuries.
“The Manda Bay Airfield is part of a Kenyan Defense Forces military base utilized by US armed forces to provide training and counterterrorism support to East African partners, respond to crises, and protect US interests in the region,” the embassy clarified.
The U.S. has issued a warning that the extremist group continues to plot further terrorist attacks targeting the United States and its international partners.
“As the principal East African affiliate of the al-Qa’ida terrorist organization, Al-Shabaab is responsible for numerous terrorist attacks in Kenya, Somalia, and neighbouring countries that have killed thousands of people, including US citizens,” the statement concluded.
