Police are holding a class eight pupil after being saved from being recruited by Al Shabaab in an incident believed to be a new tactic adopted by the Somali militia group.
The 14-year-old boy reported to be a candidate for the Kenya Certificate for Primary Education (KCPE) was recruited by the terror group and underwent radicalisation with the parents and his teachers unaware.
According to the boy, he attended the teachings and was trained on how to use guns everyday after school at a neighbour's house in one of the high end estates in Nairobi.
Security agents interrogating the boy were shocked after he unleashed a list of 19 other young recruits awaiting to be ferried to Somalia in December.
The 14-year-old revealed that they were to change their names and were promised Sh1 Billion that would go to their families after completing assignments given.
The boy's mother could not believe what had transpired saying that her son was respectful but had changed in the last three months, Nation reports.
“He always arrived home from school in time and has never had problems with his teachers. He emerged top of his class on several occasions and had never failed me,” the mother said.
Normally, the boy used to be dropped at the gate from school at 4.30pm. However, his mother noted that her son gradually began returning home late.
The boy who cannot be named because he is a minor, became defiant and on one occasion arrived home past 7pm and upon confrontation by the mother, the youngster threatened to flee from home.
In tears, his mother narrated how her son failed to return home after an argument between the two over homework and a missing sweater.
The following morning she went to school and found her son in class. She then dragged him to the car and drove straight to Kilimani Police Station.
After interrogation, the Anti-Terrorism Unit were called in on Thursday who locked up the boy throughout the night.
Police are reportedly tracing the recruiters and are investigating the house where it is suspected that radicalisation has been going on for months.
The Kenyan Government has been facing the challenge of radicalisation in the war against terror, and has on several occasions called upon the youth and leaders to help curb the brainwash exercise by the terror groups.
