Al-Shabaab now targeting secondary school students for radicalisation, says Coast police boss Robert Kitur

Sunday August 23, 2015

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Al-Shabaab militants have now changed tack and are targeting students for radicalisation, the government has warned.The militants have been luring Kenyan young men to join the group as combatants and women as Jihadi brides.

Coast Regional Police Commander Robert Kitur acknowledged the phenomenon saying the terrorists have now shifted gears and are now radicalising students in secondary schools.

However, he insisted that rapid response has been undertaken by the government including putting learning institutions in the Coast region under close surveillance to thwart such cases.

He warned teachers and parents to be on the lookout and closely monitor their children.

He said terrorist groups especially Al-Shabaab are now focusing on radicalising Kenyan students in secondary schools.

FOCUS NOW ON SCHOOLS

“Radicalisation is not only happening in mosques. We have since established they have shifted their focus to secondary schools.

“We want to ensure there is no radicalisation is schools because they have shifted their focus from the mosques to other learning institutions but the government is very alert on that,” warned Mr Kitur.

The police boss said security personnel have expanded their attention to learning institutions to ensure students are not radicalised.

“We have reports; we want to ensure our students are not radicalised,” he added.

During the recent annual headteachers conference in Mombasa the chairman of Nyumba Kumi initiative Joseph Kaguthi asked teachers to closely monitor students and analyse any change in their behaviour.

“Youth are the most vulnerable group and easily embrace radicalism. Teachers therefore, must be alert and note any slight changes in the youth,” he said.

BONI FOREST

At the same time Mr Kitur said the government will flush out suspected Al-Shabaab militants hiding in Boni Forest in Lamu County.

This is after about 100 suspected Al-Shabaab militants on Saturday morning last week ambushed Basuba Village in Lamu East Sub-County and preached to the residents for one hour.

The militants invaded the village at 5am, before flushing out the villagers from their houses and preached to them until around 6am.

Mr Kitur said police have gathered enough information that will lead to the arrest of more terrorists.

Meanwhile, religious leaders in Mombasa County led by Bishop Wilfred Lai of Jesus Celebration Centre have urged the National Government to deal with some Mombasa politicians whom allegedly help in the release arrested criminals.

Bishop Lai said there is political pressure for police to release the suspects.

“Take steps to ensure young people engaging in these acts are arrested.

“Every time they are arrested they are released because of political pressure. We want the government to stop this tendency,” he said.

However, Mr Kitur dismissed the claims by the religious leaders saying there is no political pressure.

“When the courts issue bonds our hands are tied. There is no political pressure; we are doing our work as mandated by the Constitution,” he said.

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