Kenya rugby' s senior player arrested over terrorism

The 2013 Kenyan domestic rugby league champions, Nakuru RFC have contacted security agents and pledged full co-operation with authorities after one of their senior players Javan Morton Murai was arrested on suspicion of involvement in terrorism.

In expressing their 'shock' about the arrest they learned through the media on Monday, the former Kenya Cup champions said in a statement on Tuesday evening that the player did not show any signs of leaning towards extremism during his time at the team.

Murai is being detained for 14 days pending investigations after he was arrested on Friday in Jaldesa, Marsabit County in northwest Kenya where he was said to be headed to Somalia to join the Al-Shabaab.

"The Nakuru RFC family has learnt with great shock the recent arrest of one of our senior players and a student at Kabarak University on suspicion of involvement with Al-Shabaab.

"Murai was a senior player at our club who showed no overt signs of radicalisation or extremist tendencies that would have raised any alarm at the club or among his teammates. We therefore, wish to express our shock, disbelief and great disappointment at this unnerving development," club chairman, Ali Saleh Jabri said in a statement.

"We have already contacted the relevant security agencies and pledged our full co-operation with the ongoing investigations and we will continue to do everything in our means to protect our players from any negative influences in our society and mentor them in the proud traditions of our club and country," Jabri added.

A Marsabit Court granted Police a fortnight to detain the 27-year-old suspect who was found with materials used to make explosive devices, a hard drive, several identity cards, a modem and a notebook that contained terrorism information on how to destroy buildings.

Marsabit County Criminal Investigations Officer Bernard Barasa said the suspect was arrested by rangers and Administration Police officers at a borehole in the Jaldesa Community Conservancy.

The player, who hails from Vihiga County, was heading to Somalia to link up with his friends who had joined the terrorist group.

"We do not condone any activities that subvert the security of our soldiers and our nation and we recognise that many have laid down their lives for the security we are privileged to enjoy today," the club reiterated.

The Al-Shabaab is linked to the international terror network Al-Qaeda and recently ISIS and has claimed responsibility for atrocities inside the country. Endit