Report reveals Al-Shabaab returnees do not trust amnesty
Kilifi County Commissioner Joseph Keter addressing the press at a past event. He has said the government is reviewing the approach towards addressing the amnesty on Al Shabaab returnees. PHOTO | KAZUNGU SAMUEL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Many returnees fear presenting themselves to the police because there were no clear guidelines on how they would be treated.
- The report recommends a close working relationship between the national and county governments and the people in addressing violent extremism.
- Kilifi County commissioner Joseph Keter says the government was reviewing the approach towards addressing the amnesty on returnees.
More than 500 youths from Kwale County have crossed to Somalia to join Al-Shabaab terrorists, a study has revealed.
Authorities suspect some of them have returned though they have not informed security agencies in line with the amnesty issued last year.
The report on analysis of the government amnesty on Al-Shabaab returnees, authored by Dr Hassan Mwakimako and Prof Halim Shauri from Pwani University, was released at Pekele Hotel in Kilifi Town on Tuesday.
Dr Mwakimako said many returnees feared presenting themselves to the police because there were no clear guidelines on how they would be treated.
“There is a big gap between the people and security agencies. Most families fear for the worst once their children surrender,” he said.
“We faced a similar problem during the study. Many people fear presenting a true picture of the situation on the ground.”
SCANTY INFORMATION
Dr Mwakimako said the research, which started in April and is expected to be completed by the end of this month, concentrated on Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa and Lamu counties.
“We released part of the report in Kwale. We shall do the same in Mombasa and Lamu before the final one is released,” he said.
“We also could not get the actual figures for Mombasa and Kilifi counties because information was scanty. It is our hope that the final data will capture the situation as it is.”
The report recommended a close working relationship between the national and county governments and the people in addressing violent extremism.
Kilifi County commissioner Joseph Keter said the government was reviewing the approach towards addressing the amnesty on returnees.
“Part of the plan is to have non-state actors on the forefront in the initial reception of returnees. Our aim is to widen the scope of the stakeholders in vetting, sensitisation, identification and profiling returnees,” Mr Keter said.
Among those who attended the function were Kenya Muslim Youth Alliance, clerics from Kilifi Religious Network, civil society groups and residents.
