Kenya probes missing youth over terror links in northwest

Kenyan authorities have launched investigations into the disappearance of more than 20 youth suspected to have joined Al-Shabaab in Uasin Gishu County in northwest region.

Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Abdi Hassan said the youth, both male and female, went missing two years ago and their whereabouts have not been established since then.

"We know all of them and their homes," Hassan said later Monday after inspecting one of the malls in the town to ensure it was in a good condition to avert a terror attack.

Hassan intimated that the missing group is believed to have joined Al-Shabaab, who unconfirmed reports indicated recently that have been recruiting youth in the northwest region to join the group.

The government administrator appealed to family members of the missing people to tell their children to come back home or register with the government to help track down on the youth.

Hassan, however, warned that such people, even after their return, can be a security threat to the nation. He told the youth to surrender to authorities within the amnesty period given by the government.

"They should take advantage of existing government amnesty offer for radicalized youth who had joined Al-Shabaab or any criminal group to surrender," he said, calling on the residents to embrace the community initiative in a bid to fight terrorism in the country.

The amnesty is among various measures the government has devised to address growing terror threats in the country. The government offered amnesty and reintegration amid fears that some could be planning attacks across the country and came in the wake of terrorist attack in Garissa on April 2.

The government said those who surrender themselves to the government before the expiry of the amnesty will be treated in dignified manner. Endi