Splinter group links mosque project to Al-Shabaab

Written By:Kate Achieng'a,    Posted: Sun, Aug 07, 2011

Balala has since denied any links with the terror group The controversy surrounding a mosque in the city's Pumwani area has taken a new twist after a group alleged  that part of the money raised to construct the mosque were fraudulently channeled to fund Al-shaabab activities in war torn Somalia. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, the Pumwani  Riyadha Mosque Maratib however absolved those who contributed towards its construction from blame. The mosque officials however cautioned them against further association with the Mosque Reconstruction Project which they say has since been infiltrated by al-shabaab militias who have turned the project into a recruitment base for young jobless Muslims. The group which is cautioning legislators who gave donations towards the project and any other well wishers against  any further association with the construction project. The mosque's chairman Athman Mponda claimed that a breakaway faction of the Muslim Youth Centre leadership has been involved in the recruitment of Alshabaab militias and have been fraudulently using funds from the project to lure youth in the area. They now want the government to crack the whip and take action against the culprits.  Mponda said they endorsed the UN security monitoring report. The report said a key pillar of Kenyan financial support for al-Shabaab is the Pumwani Riyadha Mosque Committee which owns a large section of land in Majengo, including the huge second-hand clothes Gikomba market. The UN report also said money donated for mosque reconstruction in Kenya is being channeled to al-Shabaab. It said Ahmad Iman issued a directive in March to his Kenyan associates saying, "direct all the money to al-Shabaab because it is their right." The report also indicated that Tourism minister Najib Balala and nominated MP Amina Abdalla had contributed Sh200,000 and Sh500,000 respectively to the reconstruction project, yet the money was diverted to Somalia. The legislators have since denied any links with the terror group urging the government to censure the UN for what they say is a falsified and baseless report.