McCarthy Tactics by Kenya in Response to Garissa University Massacre, some say
The state announced Wednesday that it has frozen the accounts of 86 individuals, businesses, and non-government organizations with alleged financial links to Al Shabaab. A list, released yesterday by Kenya’s Ministry of Finance, includes a dozen money-transfer companies believed to have roles in funding the Somali militant group.
The announcement comes five days after Al-Shabaab attacked a Kenyan university, killing at least 150, followed by renewed public outcry that the government has repeatedly failed to secure the country against terror attacks.
It may seem surprising that two reputable, internationally recognized human rights groups—Haki Africa and Muhuri—are among those accused. Both groups have over the years earned stellar reputations in pursuit of ensuring that human rights are not violated. Governments, however, commonly zero in on legitimate human rights groups threats to the system.
Most such rights groups, accustomed to the government’stargeting them in way or another, laugh off these latest accusations. Meanwhile, Kenyan authorities are interrogating members of a vocal grass-roots environmental group for their alleged links to last year’s deadly coastal attacks. The group hasn’t yet been identified on a list.
An activist with the environmental-activist organizationnoted in conversation with me that the accusations are reminiscent of the intimidation tactics employed by U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy during Cold War, the origin of the term McCarthysm. Individuals were labeled Communists without sufficient evidence to back such allegations. However unfounded the accusations, associations with “the red threat” were sufficient to tarnish reputations, even ruin careers and lives.
Muhuri and Haki Africa told local media they were unaware of being investigated for links to terrorism. [In a joint statement made by phone, ??] the two groups told a local newspaper that they deny the allegations.
“This is a witch-hunt,” a Mombasa-based human rights lawyer told me last evening. “It’s the Kenya elite trying to show they’re in charge. And it’s dangerous.”
Responses by Kenya’s security apparatus to the escalating onslaught of attacks have included mass arrests, arbitrary detention, and extrajudicial killings. Reeling from last week’s massacre at Garissa University, though, the government appears to be applying new scorched-earth tactics. At very least the accusations are proving a useful diversionary tactic, deflecting focus from the urgent need to address the country’s weak security apparatus.
Since 2011, Kenya has been fighting a proxy war for the United States in Somalia, and has suffered a rash of deadly retaliation. Since 2012 Al Shabaab has killedmore than 600 people within its neighbor’s borders, the vast majority of them civilians uninvolved in the conflict.
@SomaliaNewsroom: RT @FaisalHassing: #Kenya closes down #Somali remittance companies. Playing at the hands of the terrorist again. #HowNotToFightTerrorist.

List of 86 people, entities whose accounts were frozen by Kenya for allegedly funding terror
From The Star –
The list is as follows:
1. Mohamed Kuno aka Gamadheere
2. Abdifatah Abubakar Abdi
3. Ahmed Iman Ali
4. Fuad Abubakar Abdi
5. Erick Ogada
6. Abdikadir Mohamed Abikadir alias IKrima
7. Maalim Abass Guyo
8. Dahabshill Money Transfer Company
9. UAE Exchange Money Remittance
10. Kendy Money Transfer
11. Continental Money Transfer
12.Amal Express Money Transfer
13.Juba Express Money Transfer
14. Iftin Express Money Transfer
15. Kaah Express Money Transfer
16. Amana Money Transfer
17. Bakaal Express Money Transfer
18. Hodan Global Money Remittance and Exchange
19. Tawakal Money Transfer
20. Flex Money Transfer
21. Legend International Consulting
22. Abdiwali Hajir Sheik.
23. Mohamed Girad Sheik Abdulahi.
24. Hassan Ibrahim Kasim J/A.
25. Mohamed Abdi Muhumed.
26. Bashir Mohamed Hashi.
27. Alyce Seraphine Sway
28. Abdullahi Mohamed Salat.
29. Moulid Garad Sheik.
30. Bashir Mohamed.
31. Sky Forex
32. Ali Hassan Sagar Aka Qathar.
33. Faisal Ahmed Nuur Amaje Aka Faisal Ahmed Mohamed
34. Mabkhut Idha Bukheit.
35. Bashir Abdirahman Mohamed.
36. Abdi Kassim/Osman Abdi Kassim.
37. Mohamed Sheik Osman Egal.
38. Mowlid Khalif/Moulid Khalif Ali.
39. Yassir Mohamud Ahmed.
40. Ahmed Harob.
41. Ali Hassan Gure Aka Ali Baba.
42. Sehikh Hassa Abdirahman.
43. Sayed Abdullahi.
44. Agency for Peace and Development.
45. Haki Africa.
46. Muslims for Human Rights Group (Muhuri)
47. Abdi Ibrahim Haithar alias Agwein Aka Gamadere.
48. Ainul Qamar Lodge and Hotel.
49. Sheik Mohamed Umal
50. Abdillahi Mohammed alisa Abdullahi Mrefu
51. Abass Ibrahim alisa Abass Kidogo
52. Ali Dumaa’al
53. Abdifatah Yare mohamud.
54. Abdalah Godana.
55. Mohammed Hassan Duale.
56. Abdi Gedi Amin.
57. Ali Bashir Hassan Adan.
58. Ali Gedi Ali.
59. Mohamed Yarrow Adan Mohamed.
60. Abdullahi Mohamed Holale.
61. Turan Adan Hirsi Sheik.
62. Mahbub Abdullahi Adan.
63. Abdullahi Yusuf Farah.
64. Mohamed Ahmed Bedel.
65. Abdi Mohamed Dahiye.
66. Ahmed Adow Omar alias Qalib-Safi.
67. Kuni Elle aka Dikus.
68. Hussein Gosa Worku aka HG.
69. Nyacke Sike.
70. Rashid Sora.
71. Abdi Boru.
72. Abdi Ibrahim Adan.
73. Rashid Ali Guyo.
74. Ali Hassan Mahat.
75. Mohammed Mulki.
76. Abass Kubwa.
77. Mohammed Abdi Kesy.
78. Dekow Adoon.
79. Hassan Tagar.
80. Abass Derow.
81. Ibrahim Kobia alias Kamukunji.
82. E Coach Company
83. City to City Services
84. Sabrin Bus Services
85. G Coach.
86. Laban Hussein Degel
2. Strong personal criticism is acceptable if justified by facts and arguments.
3. Deviation from points of discussion may lead to deletion of comments.
– See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/list-86-people-entities-whose-accounts-were-frozen-kenya-allegedly-funding-terror#sthash.EpX34tsi.dpuf
– See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/list-86-people-entities-whose-accounts-were-frozen-kenya-allegedly-funding-terror#sthash.EpX34tsi.dpuf
Heh. Margot, Good short piece that aptly describes what is going on.