A suspected terrorist who had been on a list of wanted criminals was arrested by
Bungoma CID detectives and ATPU officers on Friday evening.
Ishmael Wafula, 21, was arrested at the Bungoma bus terminus on his way to Bukembe area in Kanduyi constituency, Bungoma South, where he serves as an Imam.
Wafula was taken to Bukembe, about 20km from Bungoma town, to the mosque where he taught and then to his home where searches were carried out.
He was found with CDS of teachings by Abud Rogo and other religious leaders believed to have been radicalising youths.
The suspect
was then taken to Nairobi by the Anti-Terror Police Unit detectives for further investigations.
The officers said the suspect went missing from Bukembe three weeks ago and had reportedly been hiding in Uganda.
Wafula's documents showed his father is a Ugandan and his mother a Kenyan. Police said the suspect, who had claimed to hail from Likuyani in Kakamega county, was not a Kenyan citizen.
They said he has been involved in terror-related activities.
He is also said to be an Imam at one of the estates in Eastleigh in Nairobi who went to Bungoma during the holy month of Ramadhan following a police search for him.
"We had been trailing him for a while and when the signal showed he was in Bungoma we laid an ambush and nabbed him. We want him to help us with investigations in the fight against terrorism," said a detective who sought anonymity.
But some of Bukembe's residents, led by a man identified as Shaban Wafula, said Wafula was not a terrorist but a true Muslim.
"This man came here in the month of Ramadhan and replaced the Imam who was here. We suspect leadership wrangles and foul play because we know this man is not a terrorist," said Juma.
He added that the suspect lived a quiet life and also taught madrassa classes.
Several suspects have been arrested in different parts of Kenya in the intensified fight against al Shabaab terrorists.