NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 8 (Garowe Online) - Controversy is growing over media reports that the Kenyan government is recruiting ethnic Somalis in Kenya to join the African Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) serving in Somalia, Radio Garowe reports.

Ethnic Somalis who live in a vast territory in northeastern Kenya are being recruited in big numbers, with the military recruitment process reportedly taking place in the Kenyan towns of Wajer, Garissa and Mandera, according to various sources.

Hundreds of young ethnic Somali-Kenyans are joining the Kenyan army after promises of a $600-per month salary and six months of military training, local sources said.

“My parents refused that I sign up, but I signed up and joined the army, not because I want to go to Somalia to fight, but because the pay is good,” said a young Somali Kenyan in Garissa town who declined to be named in print.

Garissa Mayor Mohamud Gabow told reporters that “300 recruits” from Garissa have been taken to military camps in other parts of Kenya after promises of salary.

But Kenyan military spokesman Bogita Ongeri called the reports “propaganda” and alleged that the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Al Shabaab insurgents were both actively recruiting ethnic Somali-Kenyans to fight in Somalia.

Kenyan authorities have long been concerned about the activities of Al Shabaab and the possibility of terror attacks in Kenya.

An Islamist-led insurgency has raged in south-central Somalia since early 2007, with a recent spike in violence near the border sending thousands of Somali civilians fleeing to refugee camps in Kenya.

The 5,000-strong AMISOM peacekeeping force deployed in Mogadishu consists of soldiers from Uganda and Burundi.

Source: Garowe Online