Enact policy aimed at shielding Al -shabaab returnees- lobbyists urge government

HAKI Africa executive director Hussein Khalid standing left and seated rights  Phylis Muema KECOSCE executive director flanked by other activists 

By Peter Kombe

A counter terrorism action plan group at the Coast has urged government to advance enactment of a policy that will protect Al-shabaab returnees and victims of radicalization.

The policy according to group is aimed at rehabilitating and integrating the victims back to society without being victimized by authorities.

The group cites lack of a clear rehabilitating and integrating guideline on reformed Al-shabaab members.

 The group says a number of youths are willing to surrender but live in fear.

Speaking at the pride inn hotel in Mombasa the activists said majority of returnees end up on local criminal groups due to lack of proper rehabilitation and integration guidelines.

They added “In June we are planning to take this fight to all schools in Kenya whereby teachers will be trained on how to detect early signs of radicalizations among students.

National Counter Terrorism Center NCTC head of research Tom Adalla said once the policy is in place, the country will have moved a step towards eradicating terrorism related activities in the country.

"Young girls and boys who come back from this terror groups and who are willing to return home, how do we accept them back, we need policies to guide us on this” said Adala.

Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid said the counties action Plan is made to address the root causes of conflict and violent extremism in the region.

 “We are making good strides, the main aim of the strategy is to mobilize all sectors of Kenya social religious and economic life to reject violent extremism ideologies,” said Khalid.

Kisauni sub county Deputy County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto said the government is open to returnees who voluntarily surrender themselves to any of the local actors including the government, CSOs and Religious groups.

“We have no problem with those who reform any returnees who voluntarily surrenders, we have a plan to integrate them to the society the DCC said.

The two day round table meeting brought together various stakeholders including the lobby groups from the six Coast counties.

The meeting was also aimed at reflecting on the milestones and commitments taken by individual counties since the launch of the Coast counter violence extremism in 2016.