As Kenya continues to mourn the loss of an estimated 147 young students at Garissa University College, there is mounting proof that one of the Al Shabaab attackers Abdirahim Mohamed is a former University of Nairobi law student.
The apparent confirmation came from a former schoolmate of the attacker on twitter. Ricky Razorlar identified Abdirahim as one of the attackers saying he graduated from UoN with a law degree in 2013.
One of the Garissa University attackers Abdirahim used to be my schoolmate at uon law school he graduated 2 yrs ago pic.twitter.com/oJu2S4PWx2
— Ricky Razorlar (@Razzlar_19) April 4, 2015
Peter Wakaba, a well-known local journalist, said Abdirahim was a former legal adviser at first community bank.
One of Garissa attackers worked at first community bank. Legal officer. He graduated UoN school of law 2 years ago.
— Peter Wakaba (@peterwakaba) April 4, 2015
The news that one of the Al Shabaab attackers appears to have such an accomplished academic background has been met with surprise.
One of the attackers alleged to be “an A student and law graduate University of Nairobi” http://t.co/rIqFZZgzfA
— Ory Okolloh Mwangi (@kenyanpundit) April 4, 2015
A twitter account linked to Abdirahim @Ababmo doesn’t reveal much about him other than his apparent displeasure at sitting through boring lectures in school.
Sme lectures are natural bores. Lookin 4 an escape route…. This boredom’s drillin into my bones *sigh*
— Abdirahim Mohamed (@Ababmo) November 9, 2009
The University of Nairobi is yet to respond to a query on whether Abdirahim was a student there. This article will be updated as soon as we receive any communication from the university.
Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi, popularly referred to as Grand Mullah, has said that if Abdirahim is officially identified as one of the attackers he will be the second graduate of UoN known to have participated in a terror attack in Kenya.
@Razzlar_19 if this is confirmed he will be the 2nd graduate from UON. Last yr a bcom graduate died at pangani police station raid.
— Ahmednasir Abdullahi (@ahmednasirlaw) April 4, 2015
Official confirmation that Abdirahim was a student at UoN would add yet another disturbing plot twist to what is already a grim story. It would mean that the dreams of the young students at Garissa University College were cut short by a “learned friend” who knew full well the benefits of a good education.
More disturbingly though, Ahmednasir says the attacks by radicalized ethnic Somalis – such as Abdirahim – could have less to do with grievances over KDF’s invasion of Somalia and more to do with a rebirth of a secessionist movement that wants to see the Northern Frontier District tear away from Kenya and again be part of Somali.
@Razzlar_19 (a) I think the attacks in Kenya targeting non Muslims whether at the coast or NEP needs a better conceptual understanding.
— Ahmednasir Abdullahi (@ahmednasirlaw) April 4, 2015
@Razzlar_19 (b) the popular narrative that these attacks are carried by Al shabab to punish KDF role Somalia is undermined by two important
— Ahmednasir Abdullahi (@ahmednasirlaw) April 4, 2015
@Razzlar_19 (c) factors. 1. The choice of victims is very telling. 2. Equally important are the actors who carry out this gruesome acts.
— Ahmednasir Abdullahi (@ahmednasirlaw) April 4, 2015
@Razzlar_19 (d) if my hypothesis is right that local actors play the “execution” role in both NEP & Coast then the monster is big..
— Ahmednasir Abdullahi (@ahmednasirlaw) April 4, 2015
@Razzlar_19 (e) much bigger than Al shabab. I don’t want sound alarmist but the combined events in NEP and coast have a common denominator
— Ahmednasir Abdullahi (@ahmednasirlaw) April 4, 2015
@Razzlar_19 (f) in both regions we have two Muslim communities that have 2 separate and known historic grievances against the GOK.
— Ahmednasir Abdullahi (@ahmednasirlaw) April 4, 2015
@Razzlar_19 (g) so the Al shabab narrative of punishment is not v satisfactory. Instead are we witnessing the nascent stage or low levels
— Ahmednasir Abdullahi (@ahmednasirlaw) April 4, 2015
@Razzlar_19 (h) manifestation of a secessionist movement in both regions trying to crystalise both ideologically and militarily?
— Ahmednasir Abdullahi (@ahmednasirlaw) April 4, 2015
@Razzlar_19 (g) so probably policy makers need to look at the events of the last 3 yrs through a different prism.The image may be startling
— Ahmednasir Abdullahi (@ahmednasirlaw) April 4, 2015
If Ahmednasir is right then this is indeed a startling development since it will mean that Kenya has to steady itself to fight a war on the home front that it hasn’t fought since 1967 when the Shifta War ended against an enemy that has recruits from its youngest and brightest.