Al Shabaab gunmen head to Somalia's southern port of Kismayu October 1, 2009.                 
Kenya is mobilizing for the final push to capture Kismayu, the capital of the terrorist Somali group Al Shabaab.
The new military stance was the centerpiece of President Kibaki’s Madaraka Day speech on Friday in which he warned terrorists that Kenyans would never surrender to them.
The President’s warning followed the most direct reference to the impending offensive by the Chief of Kenya Defence Force, Gen Julius Karangi.
Gen Karangi said Kismayu, a major source of financing for Al Shabaab, would be taken before the mandate of the weak African-backed transitional federal government (TFG) ends on August 20.

“We continue to exert pressure on Al Shabaab,” said Gen Karangi, whose troops fighting in southern Somalia have joined the 11,000-strong African Union force in Somalia (Amisom).
“Kismayu... this target will happen before August when the TFG mandate expires,” he added.
Kenyan forces this week took the Al Shabaab stronghold of Afmadow to the South of Somalia while Ugandan and Burundian troops captured Afgoye to follow on their success in Mogadishu.
Addressing the public at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium during the 49th Madaraka Day celebrations, the Head of State said the government will hunt down and deal firmly with those threatening the country’s national security.
“As a nation, we will never be intimidated. We shall deal firmly with you,” said the President.
“We are also telling those who threaten us that we will not relent in taking steps that will guarantee our national security...we will hunt down and deal with those who pose danger to our people,” he went on.
Significantly, Friday's celebrations did not feature the usual ceremonial fly past by Kenya Air Force jets, to be replaced by a single helicopter hovering above the venue.
Gen Karangi spoke as Kenya Navy vessels shelled Al Shabaab watch stations in Kismayu destroying two and killing 14, according to the military.
But the successes inside Somalia have come at a cost with Al Shabaab appearing to intensify grenade attacks in Wajir and Monday’s blast at a shopping centre on Nairobi’s Moi Avenue which left one dead and three dozen injured.
And the international engagement in a post civil war Somalia was evident with Turkey hosting regional leaders, including Prime Minister Raila Odinga in discussing the future of the war ravaged country.
Earlier, Gen Karangi expressed optimism that the AU troops will seize the last key bastion of Somalia’s Al-Qaeda linked Al Shabaab insurgents within three months.
Hardline Al Shabaab fighters are now left with the port town of Kismayu as the last major town they control, and have in recent months switched to guerrilla tactics as regional forces wrest territory from them.
President Kibaki said Kenya’s security was tied to peace and stability in his neighbouring countries - Somalia being one of them.
“The situation in Somalia has reached a critical stage. In the next two months, a new government is expected to take over from the TFG,” said the President.