Interior ministry says 85 have surrendered after amnesty offer for radicalised youth

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery at a hearing of the National Assembly's Committee on Administration and National Security on the Garissa University College attack at Continental House in Nairobi on April 30, 2015. A total of 85 youths who had been radicalised have so far surrendered to the authorities since the beginning of an amnesty announced by the Interior ministry. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA |

What you need to know:

  • “To have 85 youth who were capable of extremism surrender is an achievement not only for the ministry but for the whole country,” Mr Njoka said.
  • He said the counter-terrorism centre would try to understand what drove the youth to their position and point out ways of empowering them.
  • On Friday, Interior Principal Secretary Monica Juma said the country was vulnerable to terror attacks because it shares a border with Somalia and has been infiltrated by Al-Shabaab.

A total of 85 youths who had been radicalised have so far surrendered to the authorities since the beginning of an amnesty announced by the Interior ministry.

The ministry on Friday said the youth were now undergoing safe rehabilitation under a programme run by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre.

Interior ministry spokesperson Mwenda Njoka said although the amnesty had expired, the ministry was still pardoning the youth who voluntarily surrender to the authorities.

“To have 85 youth who were capable of extremism surrender is an achievement not only for the ministry but for the whole country,” Mr Njoka said.

Although Mr Njoka declined to reveal, for safety reasons, where the youth were being kept, he said the counter-terrorism centre would try to understand what drove the youth to their position and point out ways of empowering them.

A week after the April 2 attack at Garissa University College in which 148 people were killed, the Interior ministry announced a 10-day amnesty for radicalised youth who would surrender to authorities.

On April 24, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery extended the amnesty period by 14 days, saying the ministry expected more youth to surrender.

Mr Nkaissery has since asked parents and families who have missing children suspected to have crossed over to Somalia or are being radicalised in the country to report to the police to help track them down.

Kenya has recently suffered a spate of terrorist attacks, with the Interior ministry expressing concerns that the extremists were now targeting areas that have for long been perceived as safe and protected like refugee camps, mosques, prisons, schools and universities.

On Friday, Interior Principal Secretary Monica Juma said the country was vulnerable to terrorist attacks because it shares a border with Somalia and has been infiltrated by Al-Shabaab.