In response to reports that Kenya is recruiting youth to go and fight Somalia war, a Muslim cleric has cautioned Muslim youth not to allow themselves to be drawn by financial incentives and accept to undertake mercenary work outside the country.
According to The Friday Bulletin a weekly newsletter, the Chief Kadhi Sheikh Hammad Kassim said it was wrong to participate in such ventures as they go against the cardinal principles of Islam.
“The Prophet, peace be upon him, in his farewell spoke against shedding the blood of Muslims and we should not accept to be used by others and drawn to fight against our Muslim brothers,” Sheikh Kassim said.
He castigated those involved in the practice saying that they were sowing seeds of discord among Muslims.
While the government has consistently denied involvement in the scheme, many youths from North Eastern Province have come up in public saying that they have been offered a monthly payment of up to Kshs 44,000 or USD 564 to fight in Somalia to beef up the Transitional Federal Government which is facing an onslaught from various militia groups.
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Early this week, a joint parliamentary defence committee investigating the matter said credible reports indicated that a group of Kenyan youths at Manyani Training Camp in the Coastal region were receiving military training in readiness for the Somalia mission.
The youths who spoke to the media claimed that they were ferried to the camp in police and military vehicles, according to the Friday Bulletin.
Over 300 youths are reportedly been recruited for the Somalia mission an act which has generated concerns within the country.
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