A documentary highlighting how Kenyan youth are radicalized to join the Al Shabaab militia group, has brought to light shocking revelations regarding the welfare of Kenyan fighters in the group.
In the programme produced by American broadcaster PBS, Kenyan recruits identified as "Mohamed" and "Abdul" pensively narrate a tale of death and a desire to return to the safety of home.
“I left Al-Shabaab when the leaders in Somalia withheld weapons from Kenyan fighters, treating us like second class recruits”, Mohamed, a former Al Shabaab fighter recounts.
The former fighters recollect how Al Shabaab treated Kenyan recruits like second tier fighters by withholding weapons from them, leading to massive casualties.
Mohamed discloses that apparent death in the hands of Kenyan forces made him leave the militia life, while Abdul, decided to quit after burying many friends.
He counts himself lucky to have made it out alive, “ I have lost more than 500 of my peers". "Sometimes I come to this cemetery, and I just call myself lucky. Even now, even if I touch my heart, it’s racing".
Mohamed on the other hand tells of radical and hate messages spread by a Sheikh at the Pumwani Riyadh Mosque whom he adored.
Sheikh Ahmed Iman Ali used propaganda videos to portray the Kenyan police as oppressors. His charismatic nature tapped into the illiteracy and poverty of the youth in Pumwani, Eastlands area of Nairobi, to spread false messages of economic empowerment, justice and equality at Al Shabaab.
“There was no equality. I went thinking I would find justice. But that didn’t happen”, Mohamed says.
The preachingsof Sheikh Ahmed Iman Ali are said to have been immensely popular, targeting the most vulnerable people and since the youths in Pumwani were living in abject poverty, many felt that he was genuinely talking for them and teaching them.
In 2009, Sheik Iman left the mosque to lead Al-Shabaab’s propaganda arm.
Today, Pumwani has embarked on a de-radicalisation program to wean its youth from extremist beliefs, in a bid to prevent more of them from joining the ranks of fighters in Somalia.
The government is also recording major victories in the war against the terror group. The Standard reports that an estimated 1,500 Kenyan youths recruited by Islamic extremists and even received military training in Somalia have since surrendered.
