That a majority of learners at the school (Kinderworld Academy) are foreigners with no grasp of Kiswahili and English languages and hardly make it up to the final class of standard eight, is the cause of concern to some insiders, residents and government officials.
According to an insider, beneath the cover of providing education lies a secret mission at the school associated with terror suspect (Mohammud Abdulghani), who is allegedly living in the UK, evading Kenyan police eager to interrogate him.
On several occasions, security agents and other government officials have forced their way into the school to find out if it is conducting genuine activities.
Entry is severely restricted into the compound where routine activities that should be regarded as normal are largely secretive.
However, no incriminating evidence has been found to linkthe school to terrorism yet there are pointers that learners, mainly of Somali origin – and sneaked in from countries in Europe, US and Somalia – are being indoctrinated into jihadism. Only few pupils are Kenyan.
The learners allegedly get into Kenya without any documentation.
Obtain Kenyan Citizenship
Temporary permits are acquired while at the school before they obtain Kenyan citizenship and fly out of the country, half-way through their primary education.
It is such alleged short-cuts that are arousing curiosity to the effect that the school, which has two wings – the secular and Islamic section, is radicalising youth in connivance with some compromised government officials.
“After admission, the administration writes letters acknowledging the pupils. It is these letters that are forwarded to the immigration department to facilitate the acquisition of stay documents and passports,” said a former staffer, who was shown the door after attempting to challenge some of the “strange” procedures at the school.
The school has an average of about 500 pupils attending lower and upper primary.
It has been alleged that less than 20 pupils graduate with KCPE papers.
“The transition rate is very high. Immediately after acquiring citizenship papers, they fly out. We have always suspected that they head to Somalia were they undergo further training before returning to form sleeper cells,” said our source.
Last November, the government warned that some schools were radicalising pupils and students.
Recruit new members
An intelligence report indicated that Nairobi had six such schools.
The report identified challenges like a porous border and corruption that enables terror masterminds to penetrate, recruit and indoctrinate new members.
Some of the terror suspects allegedly involved in the Westgate Shopping Mall attack last September 21 are said to be former pupils.
The wife (a Mrs Latifa) of the terrorist fugitive is the one running the school jointly with her father-in-law (a Bashir). Most of the fixed and movable assets are registered in the name of proxies, making it difficult for police to link the wanted man to the school.
When contacted, Latifa claimed the school is not involved in any underground activities.
She blamed detractors for reports that the school is allegedly training jihadists.
She admitted that National Intelligence Service (NIS) agents visited the institution on a fact-finding mission last month after blacklisting the school among those associated with terror activities.
“That is absurd, I am telling you. How can you train kids into terrorism? Those claiming so are bitter after losing their jobs. They are even some people demanding to know where we get funding. There are many Catholic schools, why are they not being investigated, why target Muslim schools?” she posed.
Abusing immigration Act
Latifa denied that the administration is abusing the Immigration Act, saying pupils are properly vetted before being issued with legal documents.
She added that she was not aware that Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) had trained its eyes on the school.
The school head teacher David Simbe said the institution has been given a clean bill of health by education quality officials from Lang’ata District who visited the schoolfew weeks ago.
Both Latifa and Simbe invited this writer to the school for a “familiarisation tour”.
“One day a middle-aged Egyptian man came requesting that I assist him in certifying that he is Kenyan, but I refused on grounds that I was not authorised to do such work,” said our source.
Teachers are paid handsomely, blinding them against talking any ill against the institution.
A police officer in the area confirmed that they have always been suspicious about the activities of the school. He blamed corruption on their inability to unmask the alleged radicalisation activities.
A lead ATPU detective said they are carrying out investigation on the school as he pleaded for more time. “Yes there are officers on the ground looking at several things. Maybe call me soon,” said the officer.
A former police officer now doing private consultancy work said he believed the school was a front for money laundering and terrorism activities.
“From my experience as an officer, there is no doubt they school is endangering our country,” said the man.
Prior to being sacked, a former staff member said government officials have been harassed by the administration several times.
On one such occasion, health workers conducting vaccination where barred entry, until police intervened.
“One day the Lang’ata OCS was called in after a parent caused drama while demanding the withdrawal of his child on grounds that the school is associated with terrorism,” recalled the ex-employee.
- The Standard
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