State offers amnesty to Kenyans in terror group

Top security officials led by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Julius Karangi asked the recruits to denounce the group and even seek the government’s help.

Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia said the government was profiling Kenyans who may have been recruited into the militia.

He added that the government would offer amnesty to local Al-Shabaab members if they came forward.

“Our internal security has borne the adverse effects of the Al-Shabaab menace, and the government has no plan to negotiate with the militant group.

“We urge them (local Al-Shabaab) to surrender. We want to get to them, and if they are willing to come home, we will assist them,” Mr Kimemia said.

He made the plea as Gen Karangi said Kenyan troops, which entered Somalia 14 days ago, will remain in the war-torn country until there is an indication of a “highly degraded capacity” of Al-Shabaab.

The CDF said that the ongoing operation in Somalia was not time-bound and would continue until the Government and Kenyans felt sufficiently safe.

However this raises the question whether the military’s Operation Linda Nchi (Protect the Country) risks becoming bogged down in parts of Somalia.

“This operation will only stop when we feel we are safe enough as a country. This campaign is not time-bound, and we will leave it to the Kenyan people to decide when it should stop.

“When we feel safe enough we will come back to the common border where we belong,” Gen Karangi said.

The two were speaking at the Department of Defence headquarters in Nairobi where the CDF led a government delegation in its first major international press briefing on the military operation.

They were joined by Defence Minister Yusuf Haji, Communications PS Bitange Ndemo, State House Comptroller Nelson Githinji and Foreign Affairs Diplomatic and Political Affairs Secretary Patrick Wamoto.

Service Commanders Lt-Gen J. Kasaon (Kenya Army), Maj-Gen Joff Otieno (Kenya Air Force) and Maj-Gen Ngewa Mukala (Kenya Navy) as well as Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere were present.

Al-Shabaab has been accused of launching terror attacks and kidnappings on Kenya soil, as well as laying mines.