Suspected Al-Shabaab recruit surrenders to police in Garissa

A suspected Al-Shabaab recruit has surrendered to police in Garissa in response to an extended government amnesty.

The man, 22, voluntarily turned himself in at a border police station on Tuesday evening after walking for several kilometres from Somalia, acting Garissa County Commissioner James Kianda told journalists in his office.

The acting commissioner said the defector joined the militia in 2011 after dropping out of school in Class Six at a school in Garissa.

The man, according to the official, said he made a daring escape from Somali.

“We have interviewed him, and we are convinced that he is of sound mind. We believe he is an Al-Shabaab defector. He told us that he is tired of the group’s activities,” he said.

Mr Kianda, who was flanked by the County Police Commander Shedrack Maithya and the county director of criminal investigations Daniel Muleli said those who surrender before the expiry of the amnesty would be treated in dignified manner.

“I appeal to all youth who have joined the group for one reason or the other to come out and either present themselves to the nearest police station or security agency without fear of prosecution or mistreatment,” he said.

Mr Kianda said those who heed the government call would be protected from harm, adding that they would be treated well and integrated back into society.

The acting county commissioner said the former Al-Shabaab member revealed that there are many youths in Kenya who give assistant to the militia to carry out attacks in the country.

Mr Yakub urged residents to help the government fight the group by revealing criminals living in their midst to the security agencies.