MOMBASA: An estimated 1,500 Kenyan youths who were recruited by Islamic extremists and even received military training in Somalia have surrendered.
According to the Government, many of the youths are from Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi and Lamu counties and other parts of the country including Central Kenya. Monday,
Interior Permanent Secretary Karanja Kibicho unveiled a group of 19 youths, including five women, whom he said were part of a group of 48 former radicals who had surrendered. The youths have undergone a government sponsored de-radicalisation and rehabilitation programme.
The figure of 1,500 given by the State yesterday did not indicate how many were women, but officials indicated that this was a conservative estimate representing only those who had responded to a Government amnesty for surrender.
A number of youths who spoke to The Standard indicated they were radicalised through the Internet or after listening to fiery sermons of slain radical Mombasa preacher Sheikh Aboud Rogo. Sheikh Rogo had preached at the controversial Musa Mosque until he was killed in the coastal city on August 27, 2012.
During a visit to the Government Training Institute in Matuga, Kwale, Mr Kibicho announced that “these are among the 1,000 who responded to the amnesty call by the Ministry of Interior sometime back and the number has since increased to 1,500”.