AL SHABAAB recruiters are no longer focusing only on mosques, schools or madrasas for recruitment – they are also headhunting on football playgrounds.
Extremists are now targeting youth in local football fields, where they disseminate violent ideologies, with some even disguised as coaches.
During a meeting, part of a series, with Northeastern leaders led by Industrialisation CS Aden Mohamed and Majority leader Aden Duale yesterday, parents said many children have been radicalised while playing in local tournaments in the counties.
“Recruiters are becoming smarter by the day. This fight is getting very difficult by the day,” said Halima Hassan, a mother in Mandera.
She said parents whose children have joined terror groups do not tell anybody about it for fear of victimisation.
However, the leaders assured them of "utmost protection" if such matters are reported.
Mandera Governor Ali Roba asked mothers to know where their children are and whom they are with, even in playgrounds.
"If you do not trust the security apparatus, please report to us directly or indirectly. You can report anonymously as well," he said.
Roba said the region’s economic progress faces imminent collapse due to frequent attacks.
“Our construction industry, education and health sectors are crumbling,” he said.
“We lost no opportunity to convince investors that Mandera, Wajir and Garissa are safe. Al Shabaab is our Number One enemy. We must defeat them,” he said.
“Our collective resolve can and will eliminate al Shabaab,” Roba declared.
He concluded: “While many think about recreational activities such as football as an answer to violent extremism among the youth that keeps them usefully engaged, parents should also be on the lookout what their children do there.”
Duale urged women to be in the forefront against the terrorist group.
“Mothers are the bedrock of families. They know where their husbands and sons are. Please help us trace any missing persons,” he said.
“This massive campaign will be sustained to win back the hearts and the minds of our youth within our constituencies and the counties as a whole. We recognise that some of our religious institutions have had some role in radicalisation and propagation of this ideology”.
The peacemaking meetings are in their seventh day in the region and bring together national government and county officials pledged to enhance the Nyumba Kumi neighbourhood watch initiative.
The leaders called on national and county government leaders to support all efforts to tackle radicalisation.
The series of meetings is expected to end today, where leaders will draft resolutions and recommendations on how to combat homegrown terror and radicalisation.