The Somalia-based al-Shabaab militant group on Thursday released a video of a man in a Kenyan army uniform pleading for President Uhuru Kenyatta to negotiate for his release.
In the video, the man, who identifies himself as Leonard Maingi Kiiyo, says he belonged to the 9th Battalion of the African Union Mission In Somalia Peacekeeping Mission (AMISOM) and was captured on Jan. 15 during an attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde, in southwestern Somalia.
“While at El Adde we were attacked by al-Shabaab, more than 100 of my fellow soldiers were killed and others including myself were captured,” he says without specifying the number.
“My message goes to all Kenyans; I am pleading with you to come together in an effort to secure my release, I am not alone I am with my comrades,” he adds.