Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa has issued a stern warning to charity organisations involved in recruiting street children with an intention of having them join terror groups.
Marwa said the government has launched investigations into Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) in Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu and Kwale Counties who recruit youth for training on how to launch attacks in Kenya.
He said following recent investigations by security agencies, it was revealed that some NGOs at the Coast region have been operating cartels which have been recruiting unsuspecting street children and youth and training them to be terrorists.
Marwa said the organisations target youth aged between 20 and 26 years who are later transported to Nairobi for training.
“Drastic measures will be taken against Organisations which will be found engaging in this illegal activity,” said Marwa who was speaking in Witu, Lamu on Tuesday.
“The organisations lure street children with promises of helping them. Street children are an easy target for recruitment as nobody will raise alarm. We are aware and we are already deep into our investigations. Very soon we shall have them brought to book,” he said
The regional coordinator said he will not allow a few people to take advantage of desperate and poor people in the society and put the country’s security at risk.
“My office is also aware of a group of youth who are posing as fishermen and spending a lot of time at sea while their intention is to cross over to Somali and join terror groups,” said Marwa.
The regional coordinator warned the youth against engaging in criminal activities or joining criminal gangs saying the government will not spare anyone who intentionally engages in crime.