Police allowed to hold for 7 days suspected Al-Shabaab recruits

Some of the 17 youths arrested in Samburu, Kwale County over suspicion of being members of Al-Shabaab. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Police suspect the youths were on their way to Somalia to join the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group.
  • But the suspects denied the allegations, counter-accusing the police of harassment and confiscating their mobile phones.
  • The suspects told the court that they were doing business with a registered company. ​

A Kwale court on Tuesday allowed police to detain 17 suspects arrested over suspected links with Somalia-based terror group Al-Shabaab.

The suspects were arrested on Sunday at Samburu in Kwale County in a two-bedroom house where police said they found counterfeit goods.

Police suspect the youths were on their way to Somalia to join the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group.

Speaking to the Nation via phone Kinango OCPD John Kemboi said they suspected the youths, aged between 18 and 27, were new recruits.

"We suspect the youth were being organised to join terror groups because it is strange to find the group of youth in a house. It seems they were up to something," he said.

But the suspects denied the allegations, counter-accusing the police of harassment and confiscating their mobile phones.

The suspects told the court that they were doing business with a registered company. ​