What change? Riverside Terror Mastermind was God Fearing and never took alcohol or Drugs

 Ali Salim Gichunge (left) and hios companion caught on this CCTV footage entering the Dusit D2 hotel complex on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. /COURTESY

My High School Principal always used to tell us that nobody was born stupid. He believed that each of us was an A class student ‘Hakuna Mjinga Hapa!’ was one of his favorite quotes.

And so I believe that nobody was born evil! People learn to be heartless in this world. Take the case of of Ali Salim Gichunge, the mastermind of the bloody Riverside attack, according to his childhood friend, Gichunge was a God fearing man. He was bright too.

Friends and relatives have expressed shock after learning the man who left home in 2015 was involved in the Dusit terrorist attack. They said Gichunge was born and bred in Kulamawe, Bulapesa ward of Isiolo county.

He was described as God fearing, loving and outgoing person who never took alcohol or drugs. Gichunge’s childhood friend Moses Kinyua said he was one class ahead of him at Hekima Primary School in Isiolo. He said Gichunge was bright and is dismayed at the news that his friend was involved in terrorism.

So how did such a kid who was so promising end up becoming a sociopath who masterminded the massacre of 21 innocent souls?

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers arrested Gichunge’s mother Sakina Mariam.She was questioned at the Isiolo Anti Terror Police Unit offices and later taken to Nairobi for further interrogation.

 

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