Joining extremism groups will ruin your life, Duale to youth

Youth from the North –Eastern region have been challenged to avoid joining criminal and terror groups such as Al Shabaab.

Speaking in Garissa town when he officiated the finals of the Duale Cup between Berlin FC and Shake Stars, National Assembly Majority Leader and Garissa Township MP Aden Duale said that it was important for youth to remain patriotic to their country at all times.

He said that it was unfortunate to see some individuals including some rogue clerics on the forefront in recruiting youth to join the militia groups and urged the wananchi to report such individuals to the relevant authorities.

Duale also lauded efforts by the security apparatus in the region to restore sanity with no major incidences being reported since the April 2nd Garissa University College attack where 148 people were killed.

Duale urged the youth to explore their talents and fully utilize them noting that sports had become a full time job for many youths in the country.

He said that he will soon be visiting the area with the sports Cabinet Secretary Dr. Hassan Wario on a fact finding mission with a view building a state of the art stadium that the youth will in turn use to nature their talents.

In early September, President Uhuru Kenyatta asked the youth to avoid being misled into joining terrorist groups that are using ‘false faith’ to brainwash them to commit crimes.

Speaking when he launched the NYS Youth Empowerment Program in Mombasa’s Old Town, President Kenyatta said he had grown up with Muslim friends and knows Islam as a religion of peace that does not justify violence and racism.

“Which Koran are they reading? You are being poisoned and the only way we can resolve this problem is to unite,” the President said amid applause from residents.

Mining Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said that misguided people were spreading a false religion to recruit youth into terrorism.

“We are Muslims and Islam does not justify killing of innocent people,” he said.

In June, Interior CS Major Gen. (Rtd.) Joseph Nkaissery said that over 200 youth who had joined Al Shabaab militia group had surrendered to the government.

Nkaissery said the Al Shabaab recruits surrendered during the amnesty window announced by the government as a means of ending radicalization in the county.

Though he did not delve deeper into the matter, the Interior CS said that the government will not backtrack on its promise not to prosecute the recruits.

In April this year, Nkaissery announced a 10-day amnesty period to Al Shabaab recruits who decide to denounce their stand.

The recruits were asked to register with their respective county commissioners within the ten days in order to be assured of immunity against prosecution.

The announcement was made a week after Al Shabaab terrorists attacked Garissa University College killing 146 students and leaving over 100 others injured.