Report warns terror agents sneaking in through villages

Authorities in Kitui County are grappling with the challenge of warding off illegal Somali nationals suspected of being al Shabaab agents from accessing Nairobi.

The county borders the North Eastern region where some residents have been found to have close links with the terror group. Already, police in Mwingi have apprehended more than 700 illegal Somali immigrants in the last 12 months.

Most recently

Most recently, 37 Somali nationals were caught hiding in a bush near Mwingi Town.

Three weeks ago, 17 others were arrested while being ferried to the city in a Securicor van, while another truck was found with weapons stuffed into jerricans filled with paraffin.

These incidences have served as a wake-up call to security agencies that routine police checks along highways were no longer effective in stopping illegal aliens from accessing the country.

Latest reports indicate that illegal immigrants have devised new ways to get into the country undetected and are helped along by a multi-million shilling cartel that involves rogue police officers.

Mwingi Central District Commissioner Peter Kinuthia noted that even when the illegal immigrants are arraigned in court, they are quickly bailed out or have their fines paid by wealthy relatives.

Further, reports indicate that increased vigilance along the Garissa-Thika-Nairobi highway has forced suspected al Shabaab agents to seek out new routes to Nairobi, including passing through villages.

“These people are no longer using PSV buses or lorries as they want to avoid being detected by police. They are using the most unlikely means and panya routes to get to Nairobi,” said Mr Kinuthia.

The cartel

Intelligence reports also indicate that the cartel that assists suspected al Shabaab agents to sneak into the country has huge sums of money at its disposal and uses bribes to get police officers to provide them with safe passage into the city.

As a result of the complex menace, the two DCs are now enlisting the support of the local business community to help gather intelligence on the al Shabaab network.

“Owners of guest houses are required to keep identity records of all their visitors. Any suspicious characters must be reported to police for necessary action,” said Mr Joshua Chepchieng, the Kitui Central DC.

He added that residents should also be extra vigilant and report any suspicious characters they see in their villages.

Their warnings came as Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh said that the military operation in Somalia will be followed by a major swoop of city estates where sympathisers and members of the terror network are suspected to live.