by CYRUS OMBATI
Monday July 17, 2023
Al Shabaab militants are recruiting foreigners from neighbouring countries, as fewer Kenyans are joining, security officials have said.
Two Tanzanians were arrested in Garissa last Wednesday, while on their way to join the al Shabaab terror group in Somalia.
It was the third such arrest of foreign would-be recruits in a month.
Security officials said the number of Kenyans flocking to Somalia has declined after they realised they were being duped with promises of glory, money and family support.
Officials said Tanzanians Abdirahman Shaffi Mkwatili, 25, and Sadam Jafari Kitia, 30, were arrested on July 12. They had a notebook with directions in Swahili on how to travel from Tanzania to Jilib in Somalia.
They were arrested in Korakora area, police involved in the operation said.
The suspects said they were heading to Somalia to join al Shabaab after being recruited and facilitated by their handlers in Tanzania, police said.
Police said they have noted the trend of expanding regional recruitment as more non-Kenyans are travelling to join either al Shabaab or Daesh. They are provided with travel arrangements avoid communications, especially telecommunications, while on the way or asking people about the route to avoid raising suspicion.
Police sources said the latest arrests came two weeks after three other Tanzanians — Abdul Saif Salimu, Zuberi Ngare Mtondoo and Seif Abdalla Juma — were intercepted in the same area following a report by members of the public.
A Ugandan national was also recently arrested in Liboi on his way to Somalia. Police said this was made possible by the collaboration between security agencies and the community.
“We think they are now targeting Tanzanians, Ugandans and others. Kenyans are avoiding joining them and those who do come back say things are thick there,” a senior security official said.
Security agencies cautioned public service vehicle operators to be alert and share information on the movements of suspicious foreigners.
“The ongoing war against terrorism by the security agencies continues to frustrate the [Kenyan] recruitment and facilitation of recruits destined to Somalia to join al Shabaab,” a police report said.
Security agencies have increased their surveillance and investigations that of late have seen swift arrests of youth travelling to join terror groups and cells in Somalia.
Some of the foreigners joining terror groups are used as suicide bombers, officials said.
Kenya has been a victim of suicide attacks that have claimed many lives.
Meanwhile, a court on Friday, July 14, ruled there are cases to answer by Mohamed Abdi Ali, alias Abu Fidaa and Nuseiba Mohamed Ali.
Two others, Abdirahman Idriss Hassan and Salah Mohamed Khalif, were released under provisions of Section 210 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The accused persons face charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). They include directing the commission of a terrorist act; recruitment of members of a terrorist group; soliciting for the commission of a terrorist act; collection of information, promoting a terrorist act, organising a meeting in support of a terrorist group and membership in a terrorist group.
The men had been arrested in 2016 and were in custody pending the court hearing.
The defence hearing for the two is scheduled for August 21 to 25. The ruling was delivered virtually by chief magistrate Martha Mutuku at the Mombasa law courts.