Al-Shabaab Warn Christians to Leave Garissa and any Muslim Land in Northeastern Kenya

Event Unfolding:

• How Al-Shabaab it targeting to divide Kenyan communities in northeastern
• On 20^th May 2015, Sheikh Ali Dhere, the Militant’s spokesman sends a warning via a radio station that all Christians should leave Garissa and whole Muslim land
• Al-Shabaab Warn Christians sectarian to leave Muslim land and all Muslim dominated areas
• Al Shabaab have time and again been calling for Kenyan Defence Troops to withdraw from Somalia
• Warning causing tension on the ground with a growing number of Christian residents now fleeing

Warning Threat Issued to Christians Residents in Northeastern Kenya

The spokesman of Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen known as the Al Shabaab on 20^th May 2015 issued a threatening warning to Non-Muslim resident of Garissa County to leave. Sheikh Ali Dhere on a radio station warned Christians specifically to leave the ancestral Muslim land in northeastern Kenya and any other parts of the country dominated by Muslims.

The Al Shabaab militant group has been calling for Kenyan troops to withdraw from their country and since then have conducted a few attacks on Kenyan soil with the recent devastating Garissa University attack that claimed lives of 148 mainly non-Muslim Students.

Several of their attacks have been foiled and neutralized by the Kenyan Joint Security Operations, a number of the Shabaabs have been killed and others nabbed by the authorities.

Kenya Government has recently offered amnesty period for Kenyans who have joined the Al Shabaab militant group to surrender to the authority, an exercise that saw many Al Shabaab returnees turn in themselves to the authority especially in Mombasa.

Warning Threat Analysis and Assessment

The intention of the Islamist group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen in issuing threat to Christians to leave Muslim lands is meant to create tension to the group’s advantage. The main intention is to wage animosity and divide Muslims against Christians who have coexisted for years.

Kenyans should portray patriotism by embracing one another despite their religious differences. This recently has been seen when Muslim Clerics in Kenya have come out condemning the senseless killings committed by the terrorist group as anti-Muslim acts. The Clerics will also come with a program to counter radicalization among youths.

Though militant groups thrive through media propaganda, Kenya Security agencies also need to be on alert along the Kenya Somali border. Beef security in terror prone areas such as Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Mombasa and Lamu.