Rogo: Fiery preacher was on US watch list

By Willis Oketch

Controversial Islamic preacher Sheikh Aboud Rogo, who was shot dead in Mombasa on Monday has been in police custody several times over terrorism.

Famous for his provocative sermons against the West and Kenyan authorities, the native of Likoni was brought up in the Coastal city and had the dubious distinction of being the latest Kenyan to be sanctioned by the US for supporting global terrorism.

He has a home in Kanamai in Kilifi where his wife Haniya Said Sagaar runs a school. It is on this farm that Sheikh Rogo was arrested in February allegedly with an AK 47 rifle, two hand grenades, two pistols, 102 detonators and 113 bullets which police allege he was planning to use to blow up churches in Mombasa, Nyali Bridge and Likoni Ferry in an orgy of violence.

He was prominent, often moving around Coast province to preach against Western influence and exhorting youth to fight jihad (holy war).

Sheikh Rogo was fluent in Kiswahili, English and Arabic and prosecutors claim he supported the Somalia-based Al Shabaab movement.

Sheikh Rogo’s secular education and working experience is not clear although he is a known itinerant priest in Likoni, Kisauni, Changamwe where he has expressed radical views on most issues.

His co-accused

An acclaimed orator and rapid speaker aged 47, Sheikh Rogo was first arrested in 2002 after claims that he participated in the Kikambala bombings where 15 people including two Israeli nationals were killed.

He was arrested following investigation by Israel’s Mossad and Kenya Anti-Terrorism Police Unit.

He was charged with others with the murder of 15 victims of the bomb blast.

After two years in remand prison, he was acquitted due to lack of evidence linking him with the attack.

Last year, he was arrested on another claim that he is a member of Al Shabaab in which he has been charged in a Nairobi court.

Sheikh Rogo who has been a darling of the youth in Mombasa used to live in Likoni before relocating to Kanamai.

While in Likoni, police raided his house several times at night on suspicion he was a terrorist.

He was also facing another charge in Mombasa of being in possession of a firearm. His co-accused in Nairobi case, Mohamed Ali Sheikh Amin, removed his body from the crime scene on Monday.

Sheikh Amin accused police of killing Rogo but DCIO Benedict Kigen refuted the claim.

“I am not aware about what these people are talking about,” said Kigen. He said Sheikh Rogo was shot on the driver’s side by the occupants of a Toyota, which was abandoned at Nyali Bridge.

He said before the incident, Sheikh Rogo was heading to the town.

Kigen ruled out the police hand in the incident saying 15 spent cartridges recovered from the scene are not the bullets being used by the local forces. A van they were travelling, KAJ 537H, has writings on the driver’s side as Iyaadu Aboud P.O Box 42211 Mombasa. It was later towered to Bamburi Police Station.

Sheikh Amin, a former soldier, is also facing another charge of robbery with violence. The two have been banned by the US government from boarding any plane after being linked to terrorism activities.

Sheikh Rogo was one of the most feared Islamic preacher who had no fear of speaking his mind in defending Islam.

Rogo railed at the attempts by Muslim and Christian leaders to close ranks after the Garissa carnage.

It is not clear if the police in Mombasa have received a copy of the audio message or why Sheikh Rogo remained a free man.