Man denies links to terrorist group

 

By FRED MUKINDA fmukinda@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Tuesday, March 8 2011 at 22:00

In Summary

• He says he has been presenting himself to police but admits contact with another suspect

A man identifying himself as a contractor has claimed innocence a day after police released his photograph and linked him to the al-Shabaab terror group.

The police report said Mr Abdulrahman Mutua Daud coordinated communication between Somalia-based terrorists and their “cell in Kenya.”

However, he admitted having been in contact with Juma, who lives in Somalia and is accused by police of being deeply involved in al-Shabaab operations there.

Mr Daud identified the man as his 25-year-old nephew.

He asks why police say he is at large yet he is in contact with anti-terrorism unit detectives since December 30, last year, when they arrested him.

“They freed me after four days in custody. They told me to report at their offices after every two weeks. I’ve been there four times this year,” Mr Daud told the Nation.

Telephone number

He added: “They even have my telephone number.” Today, he plans to present himself to the police in the company of his lawyers.

His photograph was among three others circulated to the media by police, together with profiles of 10 men who police said belong to the group.

Recent converts to Islam had been recruited and trained in Somalia for future attacks against Kenya, but Mr Daud said he was born a Muslim.

“My parents were Muslims. I’ve never travelled to Somalia. I’ve never had any military training,” he said.

The alert came just a week after the terrorist group affiliated to al-Qaeda threatened to attack Kenya.

It read in part: “A recent operation to arrest these suspects was not successful and we are, therefore, appealing for the assistance of the public who may have information on their whereabouts.”

When Mr Daud was arrested, he was living with his sister, Juma’s mother. He said he was born in Majengo, where he earned a living collecting rent as a house agent

“That business folded two years ago and now I’m in real estate. I’m involved in construction of houses,” he said.

Police said those on their list were planning unspecified attacks in Nairobi and linked them to the Uhuru Park bombing as well as last year’s blasts in Kampala in which 76 people were killed.