Kenya clears 30 individuals, firms from terror watch list

Kenya has cleared 30 individuals and firms from its terror watch list it had published in April on suspicion they supported Al-Shabaab militants.

Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet on Tuesday published the names of money transfer firms, bus companies, NGOs and people whom he said had proved they did not to have links with the Somalia-based terror group.

Fifty-five others are not yet off the hook.

“In exercise of the powers…the entities or individuals set out in the list attached hereto have shown cause why they should not be listed as a specified entity and they have agreed to abide by the stipulated conditions set out,” said Mr Boinnet.

The government in April published the names of 85 entities suspected to abet terrorism following the killing of 148 people at Garissa University College.

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) suspended 13 money remittance companies in the aftermath of the attack.

Mr Boinnet has now cleared UAE Exchange, City to City Services, Tawakal, E Coach, Juba Express, Sabrin Bus Services, Amana and Dahabshiil.

The CBK in June started returning licences to money transfer firms including Dahabshiil — which is used by 95 per cent of international agencies and charities in Somalia.

READ: CBK starts return of suspended Somali money transfer firms’ licences

This came after President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the bank to issue comprehensive rules that would guide the operation of money remittance providers, upon which their suspension would be lifted.

Dahabshiil said a review of its operations by the CBK had found that the company observes strict anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing practices.

Mr Boinnet is, however, yet to clear Mombasa Republican Council, Haki Africa, Agency for Peace and Development and Muslims for Human Rights Group. Others yet to be cleared are Ainul Qamar Lodge and Hotel and Mohamed Kuno (Gamadheere), who is the suspected mastermind of the Garissa college attack.

READ: Officials of banned NGO to face criminal charges

The suspension of licences hit hard Dahabshiil as well as other smaller ‘hawala’ players and users, sparking outcry.

The suspension followed public pressure on the government for action after a deadly terror attack by the militants on the university. The group has killed more than 400 people in Kenya over the past two years, dealing a blow to Kenya’s tourism sector.

An estimated $70 to $100 million is transferred to Kenya every month through hawalas — informal money remittance methods that involve transfer of cash without any records of parties involved in the transactions.

Aid and rights groups had in April decried the ban on the services, saying it would adversely affect Somali refugees in Kenya who rely heavily on cash from kin abroad.