40 al Shabaab returnees and defectors in Kilifi County have been committed to various rehabilitation centers in Mombasa by the Kenyan government. The youths committed are said to have presented themselves to different security agencies in Malindi, Mambrui, Kilifi town, and Mtwapa.
Government officials in charge of the rehabilitation process have said that the youths are unlikely to get prosecuted seeing as they took advantage of the amnesty given by the Kenyan government.
Some of the returnees escaped killings in Somalia after falling out with Al-Shabaab leaders while others have run away from increased African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) operations.
The Kenyan government has urged the returnees not to hide and instead present themselves to the authority as it will ensure a proper reintegration into the community. Moreover, the officials maintained the war against al Shabaab would only succeed if the returnees present themselves to authorities for rehabilitation or if the government eliminates them completely.
Families in the coastal region have been warned against hiding the returnees, and instead, they should let the returnees surrender and register themselves at the various government offices so that rehabilitation measures and procedures can be initiated.
