Kenyan intelligence report reveals troubling al-Shabaab presence in Garissa

SABAHI
Thursday, October 24, 2013

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Facts about the extent of al-Shabaab's presence and influence in Kenya's north-eastern Garissa County, which were revealed in a recently leaked National Intelligence Service (NIS) report, have left county leaders and residents troubled.

"The high number of terrorist attacks Garissa has suffered compared to other counties in the country is a testament that al-Shabaab are among us," Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji told Sabahi.

"During the early stages and at the height of the attacks, Garissa was regarded as the group's headquarters," he said, adding that al-Shabaab moved its operations to Kenya after Somali and allied forces cornered the militant group on its home soil in Somalia.

A situation report within the 32-page NIS document, which was dated April 26, 2013 but leaked to the public after al-Shabaab's attack on Westgate mall last month, described the troubling facts.

Amniyat operatives, part of al-Shabaab's elite intelligence wing, have selected Garissa as the "preferred base for their operations where they have set up infrastructure to facilitate their activities", according to the report.

"Al-Shabaab controls two-thirds of Garissa County, a situation that could be extended to Nairobi," the report said.

According to the report, Amniyat operatives have continued to pour into Kenya -- particularly in the north-eastern region -- and facilitate "terror activities to the extent of engaging in and controlling economic activities, some of which are illegal".

"The al-Shabaab and 'Amniyat' operations in north-eastern region have been the backbone of the network that supplies IED/grenades and other weapons that are used by the terror cells operating in Nairobi and Coast region," the report said, adding that al-Shabaab also was exploiting inter-clan, political and other rivalries in the region as a cover for its terrorist activities.

Al-Shabaab's history in Garissa

Garissa County Commissioner Harun Rashid Khator said al-Shabaab has been present in Garissa for a long time, way before Kenya deployed troops to Somalia in October 2011.

"They established their presence during the discreet mass recruitment of youths from the north-eastern region, with the majority hailing from Garissa County," he told Sabahi, adding that most of the young recruits slipped back into Kenya after the onslaught against al-Shabaab by Somali and African Union Mission in Somalia forces.

Through ongoing investigations, county authorities have become aware that al-Shabaab members own properties in the county, Khator said.

Between 2007 and 2009, there was a local property boom and land speculation, particularly in Garissa town, he said. While the government was investigating claims that piracy money was fuelling the boom, that period could have been when al-Shabaab acquired the land.

"We have identified properties owned by the group. From the investigations, they acquired the properties before Kenya Defence Forces went to Somalia. We are also investigating several other properties that the group is said to own through proxy," he said.

In addition, al-Shabaab operatives have engaged in business with local merchants and traders.

"Al-Shabaab poses as traders and is supplying Kenyan businesses with goods from Somalia," he said. "Some of the traders are aware of who they are dealing with but other traders do not know their associates."

Because Garissa borders Somalia and is close to the Dabaab refugee complex, it should come as no surprise that al-Shabaab views the county as a base, said Senator Haji.

Police, leaders working together

Local security forces are working with the national government to educate Garissa residents on the dangers of protecting al-Shabaab operatives, he said.

"Garissa residents are a very co-operative and peace loving people," Haji said. "There are, however, a few elements who may harbour al-Shabaab operatives. These are the ones we are seeking in our town hall meetings and public gatherings to volunteer information because al-Shabaab has no permanent friend."

Meanwhile, some religious leaders said they were helping the government by preaching against extremism.

Chairman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims in Garissa Sheikh Abdullahi Salat said they were trying to reverse the "brainwashing that may have been done to some youths [to make them believe] they are fighting for a religious cause".

"It is a gradual process to reverse the beliefs but we are glad the government is patient with the progress," he said.

He said community co-operation with authorities has drastically reduced the number of attacks in Garissa in the past year.

Stepped up security

Garissa Central Officer Commanding Police Division boss Benjamin Ongo'mbe told Sabahi that through the NIS reports, police have managed to foil a majority of terrorist attacks in Garissa town.

"We pre-empted the attacks by deploying more security officers to the targets or asking proprietors of some of the businesses to close business early or on given days," he said. "Between June and just recently we arrested at least 15 people in connection with some of the plots."

Some of the cases are pending at the Garissa County Court, Ongo'mbe said, and police have applied to the court for more time to conclude investigations while holding suspects in custody.

In addition, police have acquired court orders to use force when necessary during their searches of at least dozen addresses believed to be either hosting terrorists or used as warehouses for weapons.

Even some politicians and religious leaders have been placed under police surveillance over reports that they are supporting al-Shabaab, Ongo'mbe said.

"It is a delicate balancing act when we are dealing with the community leaders, some of whom are influential," he said. "They can politicise the entire war on terrorism and incite citizens [to believe] they are being targeted because of their faith. That is why we are gathering prosecutable evidence against the leaders so that when we move in a single swoop we have backup evidence."

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