In Mombasa, two individuals, Hussein Yusuf Mrafi and Ali Mwalimu Mwinyi, have been detained for 21 days on suspicion of recruiting young people to join terrorist groups in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They are accused of involvement in recruiting for ISIS and al-Shabaab, serious charges that have landed them in front of a Mombasa Magistrate Court on Thursday, April 11, 2024.
The charges brought against them include recruiting members for a terrorist group, as per the Prevention of Terrorism Act No. 30 of 2012. The detectives handling the case suspect that Mrafi, aged 27, and Mwinyi, aged 21, may be part of a network operating in Likoni sub-county, Mombasa County. They allegedly used the teachings of the late Sheikh Aboud Rogo, a controversial Mombasa preacher, to radicalize individuals and lure them into joining terrorist organizations.
The court was informed that the suspects have connections with individuals who have already joined al-Shabaab, indicating a network of influence and recruitment. The case sheds light on the ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and extremist activities in the region. The detention of Mrafi and Mwinyi underscores the seriousness of the allegations against them and the authorities’ commitment to addressing the threat posed by terrorist groups in the area.