Chiefs in Isiolo told to submit names of missing youth in fight on radicalisation
Isiolo County Commissioner Wanyama Musiambo addressing a county peace forum on April 13, 2015. He has directed chiefs in the county to record all missing youth in an effort to track those who could have been recruited into militant groups like Al-Shabaab. PHOTO | VIVIAN JEBET | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- County Commissioner Wanyama Musiambo this would help in the fight against radicalisation.
- Mr Musaimbo said some youth have been radicalised and joined Al-Shabaab without the knowledge of local chiefs.
- Parents were urged to openly speak to their children and discourage them from getting radicalised.
- The county boss retaliated his earlier directive on taxi drivers and boda boda riders to close their business by 9pm.
Chiefs in Isiolo have been directed to compile the names of youth missing from their homes or schools in an effort to track those recruited by militant groups.
County Commissioner Wanyama Musiambo on Monday said chiefs and their assistants should report to security agents any person suspected to have left the area for thorough investigations.
An unknown number of youth from the area, Mr Musaimbo said, have been radicalised and joined Al-Shabaab without the knowledge of local chiefs.
"The situation does not augur well for the country's security," he said.
The county boss was addressing a county peace forum in Isiolo Town.
The forum condemned Al-Shabaab activities and urged parents to provide information about their missing children.
Several stakeholders in the county peace forum vowed to act on resolutions made during the meeting to combat radicalisation and militant activities.
ENHANCE NYUMBA KUMI
The meeting that brought together national government and county officials pledged to enhance the Nyumba Kumi initiative, monitor unlawful gatherings, increase peace dialogue, provide the right education to schoolchildren and raise an alert on Al-Shabaab sympathisers.
Parents were urged to openly speak to their children and discourage them from getting radicalised.
Mr Musiambo also directed Merti and Garbatulla sub-county commissioners to talk to their counterparts from Wajir and Garissa and urge them to prevail upon herdsmen from the northeastern region to stop threatening local herders with guns at boreholes and grazing areas.
ORDER ON TAXIS AND BODA BODAS
The county boss reiterated his earlier directive to taxi drivers and boda boda riders not to work beyond 9pm.
He ordered police to reinforce the directive, saying criminals were now conducting illegal business using boda bodas and taxis at night.
He also urged hoteliers to stay alert, adding that all records of guest bookings should be kept.
"We want to make sure that all criminals in our county are apprehended. Businessmen who sponsor offenders will be held responsible for their actions," said Mr Musiambo.
During the meeting, Isiolo District Criminal Investigations Officer Peter Ndubi cautioned residents against handling serious cases at home before reporting them to his office for action.
