The United States government has announced a Ksh1.3 billion (approximately $10 million) reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of individuals behind the deadly 2020 terror attack at the Manda Bay Airfield in Lamu, Kenya.
At the center of the high-stakes manhunt is Abdullahi Banati, a suspected mastermind of the assault that left three Americans dead, injured several others and destroyed U.S. and Kenyan military assets.
“This reward demonstrates our unwavering commitment to justice and to protecting U.S. personnel and allies around the world,” the U.S. Embassy in Somalia said in a statement issued Wednesday, May 7.
The bounty, offered under the Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program by the U.S. Department of State, is one of the largest ever announced in East Africa. The RFJ initiative has paid out over Ksh32 billion ($250 million) globally in the last four decades for information that has helped safeguard American interests.
The Manda Bay attack took place on January 5, 2020, when heavily armed Al-Shabaab militants stormed the airfield at dawn, using Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) to target parked aircraft and military vehicles.
The offensive, which lasted four hours, destroyed two fixed-wing aircraft (including a U.S. Cessna and a Kenyan one), two U.S. helicopters and several vehicles. Tragically, one U.S. service member and two Department of Defense contractors lost their lives, while others—including a Kenyan soldier—were wounded.
Describing the Manda Bay base as a vital counterterrorism hub, the embassy emphasized that it supports “training of East African partners, crisis response, and the protection of U.S. interests in the region.”
Security analysts warn that the Somali-based militant group Al-Shabaab, which claimed responsibility for the attack, continues to pose a significant threat across East Africa.
“Al-Shabaab, the East African branch of al-Qa’ida, remains intent on striking U.S. targets and has already killed thousands across Kenya, Somalia and neighboring countries,” the U.S. cautioned.
Those with information about Banati or any of the perpetrators have been urged to reach out confidentially via Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp at +1-202-975-9160.
With such a colossal bounty on the table and renewed diplomatic urgency, the race is now on to bring the perpetrators of one of Kenya’s most brazen terror attacks to justice.
