Mombasa, Kenya - Kenyan authorities said on Thursday they are holding at least six suspected al-Shabaab returnees who have surrendered following 10-day amnesty issued by the government.
The six surrendered to police in the coastal city Mombasa and are being interrogated by detectives from different security agencies to find more information about their activities in Somalia.
Senior National Intelligence Service (NIS) officer told Xinhua that the six mainly youth from Mombasa have confessed to have crossed into Somalia for military training.
“The youth have shared crucial investigation that will assist in the investigation of terror network in the country. We are still profiling them to assist in the investigation,” said the officer who declined to be named.
Regional CID commander Henry Ondiek said the six will be handed over to the anti-terrorism police officers for further interrogation.
“We are yet to be handed over the youth, but we expect more youth to surrender soon following the amnesty,” Ondiek said in Mombasa.
Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa said the youth will not be victimised if they surrender within the grace period.
Marwa said he has received information from the local administration, chiefs and village elders in the coastal region, saying that some youth are ready to surrender.
The government has issued a 10-day amnesty to al-Shabaab returnees to surrender which ends on Thursday.
The youth sneaked back into the country through the porous Kenya-Somalia border and are being harboured by their relatives and families
Hundreds of youth have escaped from Somalia while others could be part of gang plotting a series of terror attacks in the Country.
They fled from Somalia following intensive bombardment and liberation of key towns in southern Somalia by the African Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM).
According to police more than 300 Kenyan youth who were brainwashed and lured to join the insurgent group are back in the country.
Kenyan leaders are worried that increased attacks may slow the pace of doing business locally as local investors avoid or postpone none essential activities.
Tourism is one of the main drivers of economic growth and earns Kenya over 1 billion US dollars and provides employment to thousands of its citizens.
However, recent terror attacks have dented the recovery efforts.
Xinhua