Tuesday, July 19, 2016
By ELKANA JACOB
Interior PS Karanja Kibicho addresses journalists after meeting 19 Somali returnees at Matuga School of Government on February 27. Photo/Alloys Musyoka
Kwale police informers are living in fear of al Shabaab revenge attacks by hundreds of returnees from Somalia.
Police and other security agencies will meet today in Diani to discuss the problem.
Elders, said to have been identified by al Shabaab returnees as “loud mouths”, are seeking refuge in neighbouring counties, including Mombasa and Kilifi.
Intelligence reports indicate Kwale county has the highest number of al Shabaab returnees due to poverty, illiteracy and communal prejudice.
About 500 Kwale youths have returned from Somalia. Militants have drawn up a hit list of informants whose lives are in danger, police say.
“We are in danger. Even our neighbours are worried about us. We have been in lodges for a long time. By Allah’s grace, I once narrowly escaped a bullet,” an elder, who requested not to be named, said.
He said the returnees have a good network and are highly trained.
Police are watching several mosques, including Mbuluni Mosque in Kinango, Mstunga Mosque near Lunga-Lunga and others in Mbita and Kambingu, where youths are said to be radicalised.
Investigations by the Star show terror suspects Mwamba Charo Rua, Nyawa Salim Chikuta among others who are behind bars, have influenced several youths into joining al Shabaab.
The suspects are being probed by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit for several terror claims and for allegedly killing boda boda operator Beja Nyota.
Beja was found murdered in Mlafyeni, Mwaluphamba, last month.
Photos seen by the Star show he was stabbed several times in the face.
His cap was found hanging on a tree. Regional police commander Francis Wanjohi said he will meet security personnel in Diani today.
“We have been receiving complaints, but we are holding a meeting with stakeholders to determine the insecurity level,” he said.
The Kwale government, through director of communications Kaule Mwembe, has said security is not a devolved function.
“We have several security organs, including the NIS, the ATPU and the CID,” he said.