Children testify against radical cleric

Samwel Wanjala Wabwire alias Salim Mohamed, a terror suspect, alights from a police vehicle during the hearing of his case at the Gandini Primary School in Kilifi County, yesterday. Salim is facing charges of recruiting pupils of the said school into Al Shabaab. (PHOTO: KELVIN KARANI/STANDARD)

Young Muslims yesterday testified in court of how a radical Islamic preacher facing terrorist charges urged them to avoid and kill non-Muslims through incendiary sermons.

Parents narrated that the suspect, Salim Mohamed Wabwire, secretly converted their children to Islam and extremist ideology, therefore turning the young ones against their mothers and fathers who confessed that they now live in fear of the preacher.

"We used to pray at the mosque and the ustadh (teacher) taught us about the Koran. He was teaching us about other religions and told us other religions are kafir (infidel) and we should slaughter them," said a six-year-old Christian child converted to Islam.

"I decided to shun all Christian friends because that is what ustadh told us. I came to madrassa (Islamic school) once and he told us that Christians are kafir," said another child born a Muslim.

Several children who police say came under the radical preacher's spell, claimed he also controlled them through beating, threats and instilling fear.

Police displayed school shirts with the writings 'Radical Youth' and 'Radical', allegedly made by the suspect.

The children told a hushed court that Salim, a former Christian who was expelled from Maseno University three years ago, constantly told them non-Muslims were infidels who should be killed.

The minors aged between six and 13 told Mombasa Principal Magistrate Diana Mochama that Salim taught them martial arts to protect themselves against the enemies of Islam.

The suspect, formerly Samuel Wanjala Wabwire, was arrested on July 19 this year at Gandini, Kaloleni, in Kilifi County, where he was an imam at Masjid Jihad or Jihad Mosque.

Salim was also a teacher of Islamic Education at Gandini Gatoni Primary School where the court held yesterday's session to allow the pupils to testify within familiar surroundings.

Salim is charged with recruiting eight pupils to join the Al Shabaab terrorist group and being a member of the Somalia-based group.

He was brought to court in handcuffs under tight security. He sat, apparently at ease in the dock, often smiling and talking calmly as he cross-examined his alleged child victims. Salim has no lawyer.

Yesterday, eight pupils police say passed through Salim's hands and several parents recounted the suspect's alleged radical activities. A six-year-old girl said Salim converted her to Islam through threats and ridicule.