The National Counter Terrorism Centre highlighted Narok County as a fertile ground for recruitment and radicalisation of youth into terror groups.
The decision to flag Narok was made during a 3-day workshop held by security stakeholders at the Mara Frontier Hotel in Narok. The team also identified several hotspots within the county that were potential hunting grounds for head recruiters.
Some of the areas included trading centres and lodges around and within the famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve, as well as areas along the porous Kenya-Tanzania border.
Narok town was also termed as one of the most highly exposed areas in the region, followed by trading centres in Narok South, including Olderkesi, Narroosura, Lemek, Kilgoris, Lolgorian and Ongata Barikoi.
Some of those hotspots were found to be marred with tribal conflicts, thus making them more likely to be used as safe havens for radicalisation and planning terror-related activities.
Narok County Commissioner, George Natembeya, called upon the county residents to assist the national government in countering violent extremism from the grassroots level
“It is the duty of the government to secure the people and their property but security starts with you. We should be suspicious of all strangers wherever we go,” Natembeya divulged.
The meeting came weeks after a suspected terrorist was arrested outside Narok Stadium amid preparations for Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, 2019.
Adan Galhai alias Urisha Galhai, 22, was arrested on his second attempt to get into the stadium, a day after he escaped from police custody.
The workshop formulated a county action plan and elected a committee led by Bishop James ole Nalamae, to conduct training on matters security and building capacity to counter terrorism.
The committee is expected to perform roles including raising awareness on terrorism and developing strategies to battle radicalisation as well as foster de-radicalisation.
