Al-Shabaab recruits ‘a security threat’

Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere has warned that dozens of Kenyan youths being recruited by al-Shabaab militants pose a serious security threat to the country.Mr Iteere said it was no secret that Kenyan youths were being lured by cash tokens to join terrorist groups, saying the police were closely monitoring their activities.

He noted that police officers were on high alert, especially on the porous 800km Kenya-Somali border, to curb the illegal recruitment.On Friday, dozens of women from Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi counties held demonstrations to condemn the recruitment of their sons into the terror group.

Speaking in Mombasa, the police boss noted that the concern raised by the women is a reality that cannot be dismissed by security agencies.“We are aware that some youth have joined the group. It a dangerous trend for our country and parents should take the initiative of instilling patriotism in their children,” he said.Mr Iteere spoke shortly after a management training course for 30 chief inspectors at the Government Training Institute.Security sources state that as many as 10 youths recruited by al-Shabaab in Mombasa and Kwale counties have lost their lives in the battle between the group and Transitional Federal Government Training Institute.Security sources state that as many as 10 youths recruited by al-Shabaab in Mombasa and Kwale counties have lost their lives in the battle between the group and Transitional Federal Government forces.

Mr Iteere also announced that the police department had acquired three new marine patrol boats at a cost of Sh800 million to bolster the fight against trade in illicit drugs.

He said the boats recently procured from the Netherlands will be dispatched to Malindi, Mtwapa and Lamu to patrol the Indian Ocean.

According to the police boss, two of the boats have been handed over to marine police to improve surveillance on the coastline, which investigations have established is a safe haven for drug barons.

“In addition to the 24 patrol boats, the three newly-acquired boats will scale up operations on the coastline,” Mr Iteere told reporters.

A fortnight ago, police officers impounded a heroine haul of 102kg in Shanzu, Mombasa. Six suspects including three Kenyans, two Iranians and a Pakistani arrested and charged with trafficking the illicit drug worth Sh200 million.

The police commissioner said the force is keen to catch the ‘big fish’ engaged in drug trafficking.Nation