There are more signs of mounting fears about a possible terror attack in Kenya. This time, the Al-Qaeda branch in Somalia, Harakat Shabaab Mujahideen is not targeting innocent civilians and foreigners, rather Kenya’s critical infrastructure and defense assets in the Coastal city of Mombasa. Multiple intelligence reports, arrests of cells on transit, deployment of cells to Kenya, and activation of others in the Coastal region quantify another possibility: Harakat Shabaab Mujahideen terrorists are on the verge of conducting a spectacular attack, striking multiple defense and critical infrastructure targets in the coast at roughly the same time.
This possibility has been further reinforced by the arrival and subsequent successful ‘going deep’ of a Harakat Shabaab Mujahideen intelligence (Amniyaat) operative who also doubles up as SIO at National Intelligence Security Agency of Somalia (NISA). In following through instructions by Al-Qaeda Central, to revenge the Christchurch Mosque attack in New Zealand, Shabaab has continued to target critical infrastructure in Kenya with plans to conduct a watershed attack by the year end.
Abdiwaahid Khalif Abdi aka Ise Tarabuun
Kenya police issued a statement late last week seeking public support in looking for Abdiwaahid Khalif Abdi known as “Ise Tarabuun” who reportedly entered Kenya on Sept 24. Khalif, an Al-Shabaab amniyat operative was captured in Mogadishu in 2017. Somalia security minister held pressers celebrating his arrest. Ise Tarabuun did not go to jail rather began working with NISA, the Somali intelligence agency. According to NISA operatives, Abdiwaahid Khalif Abdi aka “Ise Tarabuun” was a Shabab top Amniyaat officers who was assigned a corner office at NISA HQ in Mogadishu. Late Sunday, the Somali Ministry of Information issued a statement claiming Abdiwaahid Khalif Abdi aka Ise Tarabuun was released after serving two-year sentence.
Interestingly, he arrived in Nairobi from Mogadishu just as intelligence officials in Kenya are on high alert about possible attacks targeting the Coastal Prefecture and tourists’ hub. It’s not coincidental. There’s nothing like coincidence in “Intelligence & Espionage”, argued S.I CT experts. ‘Every event during the eve of a suspected attack, is part of the puzzle we are solving. If the terrorist Ise Tarabuun is not the lead to actual cell, then he is a decoy, a critical disruption as a core cells slip into the country and move nearer the targets.’
More Amniyaat operatives assimilated to NISA and SNA continue to facilitate and help conduct mass casualty terror attacks in Somalia. In theory and practice, Ise Tarabuun could be an Al-Qaeda affiliate cell deployed to NISA and cleaned to serve a greater purpose. The Government of Somalia will be responsible for any terrorist activities and attacks facilitated or linked to Ise Tarabuun. Already, there’s speculation, President Faarmajo’s government could have facilitated his travel, which would mean he is on a mission in Kenya.
In theory, terror warnings are supposed to cultivate an atmosphere of preparedness. If Kenyans, are vigilant against the terrorist threat, then maybe the terrorists will be caught and their plots foiled, a reason why the NPS want public to help identify and capture Ise Tarabuun.
