In a significant development to quell terrorism in Kenya, the Interior Ministry has released the names and photographs of 35 individuals believed to be associated with the terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
The Ministry added that these individuals were also responsible for a wave of terror in the Lamu and Boni regions.
While releasing these names, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki stated that these 35 individuals are believed to have been involved in the placement of explosive devices, the murders of civilians, and the attack on the American military base at Manda in 2020.
The Ministry has further called upon the public to provide information about the whereabouts of these individuals in exchange for an undisclosed financial reward.
“We will be calling on the people of Kenya to provide us with information. The government will offer financial rewards for information that can help us apprehend these dangerous criminals,” Kindiki announced.
Kindiki also stated the Ministry’s intention to publish the names of suspects considered to be the financiers of Al Shabaab.
“The Ministry of Interior is going to publish those suspects that we consider to be the chief planners. Those are the ones we consider to bear the great responsibility of financing and orchestrating the violence,” Kindiki said.
Foreigners on the list
The list that was released yesterday primarily comprises Kenyan residents. It however also has a small number of foreign nationals. The listed persons are suspected to have allegedly played roles in planning and executing attacks along the Kenyan coast.
Notable names on the list include Maalim Ayman, Ramadhan Kioko, Abdullahi Banati, Andreas Martin Muller, Abu Amar, and Suleiman Maktum.
Also included on the list are Yusuf Anau (a Tanzanian national), Abdiweli Yassin Isse, Idris Dhul Kifir, Silla, Ibrahim Magag, Hassane Tijana, and Fahad (a Bangladeshi national who is also a medic).
Other individuals on the wanted list include Tanzanian national Jamalo, Sheikh Nganglangalam, Ethiopian national Janagale Huteiba, Bashir Mursal Mohamud, Abu Khatal, Maalik Alim Jone from the United Kingdom, Abu Said (a medic), Abu Anan, Mzee Mashella, Warsame Ali, Mohamed Mwanjama Salim, and Abdikhadir.
Notice to surrender
CS Kindiki further asked the suspects to surrender themselves to the nearest police station or government authorities.
“We will give notice to those criminals to surrender to the nearest police station, chief’s center. If they don’t surrender, we will look for them. We will find them and we will do what we must,” Kindiki said.
Professor Kindiki also said that the suspected terrorists have been linked to attacks in Lamu and the Boni forest enclave.
Their alleged activities include planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on various roads. The IEDs have resulted in the deaths of civilians along the Lamu-Witu-Garsen highway. They have also been accused of attacks in Lango la Simba, Witu, Mpeketoni, and the American military base in January 2020.
The attacks perpetrated by these individuals have also resulted in the loss of security personnel.
