Story highlights Mahad Mohammed Karatey was killed along with 52 others, the Kenyan military says

An Al-Shabaab spokesman denied that an airstrike happened; a Somali government official said Karatey may still be alive

Karatey is known as the head of the Amniyat, Al-Shabaab's intelligence wing

Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) A Kenyan airstrike in Somalia has killed at least 52 militants from the Islamist terror organization Al-Shabaab, including its intelligence chief, the Kenyan military said. But Al-Shabaab denied that there was any strike, and a Somali government official cast doubt on the intelligence chief's death.

The strike earlier this month targeted a camp where the Kenya Defence Forces said the Amniyat, Al-Shabaab's intelligence wing, was training around 80 recruits.

Mahad Mohammed Karatey, also known as Mahat Karatey, was killed along with 10 mid level Al-Shabaab commanders and 42 recruits, said the KDF, which is part of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

He was attending a graduation ceremony for the recruits, the KDF said.

The U.S. Department of State has designated Karatey as a terrorist and is offering up to $5 million for information locating him.