Highlights:
An estimated 1500 radicalized Kenyan youth mainly from Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, and Lamu Counties among other parts of the country responded to the government call for amnesty. The radicals had received military training in Somalia.
On Monday February 22nd, the Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho a group of 19 youths (who are part of a 48-member group) were unveiled after completing de-radicalization and rehabilitation program by the government.
Summary:
In mid-2015 the Kenya government through its interior ministry extended am amnesty offer fo Kenyan youth that were radicalized and or had travelled to Somalia to join the al Shabaab in an exercise that saw at least 1500 youth surrender to the government.
According to the Kenyan government most of the returnee youths came from Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa amd Lamu Counties as well as Nairobi and the Central region.
Kenyan government sponsored a de-radicalization and rehabilitation program for the youth with the first batch of 19 unveiled by the interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho with the group drawing membership from both genders. The program dissuaded them from the extremist beliefs and sought to reintegrate them into the society.
According to the recently de-radicalized youth, they were either recruited through the internet or fiery summons of slain Sheikh Aboud Rogo who seemed to appeal to their vulnerability and misfitness.
The youths have been debriefed, monitored and observed by their professional tutors to establish and declare them ready to reintegrate into the society seeing as they are not a security threat rather people looking to make a difference in their respective communities.
