Five Kenyans wanted over Al-Shabaab links

Security agencies are on high alert following intelligence reports that a would-be suicide bomber, her husband and a former football player are planning attacks in the country.

Ms Shamim Wanjiru Hussein, 26, her husband, Omar Patroba Juma, 33, and former Mathare United football player Anwar Yogan Mwok, 34, are among five Kenyans whose photographs are being circulated over suspected links to Al-Shabaab.

The others, Omar Owiti and Ramadhan Kioko, have featured in previous similar reports.

According to a government report seen by the Nation, the five plan to sneak into the country from Somalia, where they have been undergoing training.

“It is believed Shamim was recruited for a possible suicide bombing mission. While the target and timing is unknown, it is likely she will reach out to friends and family, some of whom live in Nairobi,” the report says.

Photographs of the five and appeals to the public to help track them down are included in the report.

The report says of Juma: “He is also known as Patroba Juma Owiti. He is believed to be a member of Jaysh Ayman and was involved in the June 2015 attack on a KDF base in Baure, Lamu County. He was born in Siaya County in 1982.”

Jaysh Ayman is the Kenyan faction of Al-Shabaab and is active in Somalia and Boni Forest in Lamu County.

While his wife Shamim joined this year, Juma was recruited in 2013, when he was living in Nairobi’s Umoja Estate, according to the report.

The other three are identified as survivors of the June 14 military camp attack in which 18 terrorists and three soldiers died. British terrorist Thomas Evans was among the dead.

The report says of former footballer Anwar Yogan Mwok: “He was born in Siaya in 1981 and raised as a Christian. When he was young, his family moved to Nairobi. He was a player prior to his conversion to Islam and recruitment into violent extremism. He lived in Umoja with his family until 2013 when he left for Somalia.”

In Somalia, he joined Jaysh Ayman, for which he helped to raise funds by selling his property in Nairobi.

“Anwar owns a significant amount of property in Umoja, some of which, it is suspected, he has disposed of and the proceeds used to finance Al-Shabaab activities in Kenya. Anwar has also been involved in recruiting youth in Umoja. Both Anwar and his close associate, Eric Ogada, grew up in Nairobi and are facilitating Kenyan youth to join Al-Shabaab.”

Mr Ogada is identified as the woman’s recruiter. Security agencies said more Kenyans could be added to the list as the investigations progress. The latest list shows that all the suspects grew up in Nairobi.

The report says of the woman: “She was born in Pumwani, Nairobi. She has been married to several Al-Shabaab operatives over the years. Among them was Swaleh Kibet, who died in Somalia fighting for Al-Shabaab.”

On Omar, the report says he was brought up in Nairobi and was likely radicalised at the Pumwani Riyadha Mosque by fugitive Al-Shabaab commander Ahmed Imani.

“Omar is the younger brother of the late Hassan Omondi Owiti, alias Budalangi, who participated in various attacks in Nairobi in 2012. He was killed in May 2013 in a gunfight with police at his hideout in Githurai.”