The continued divide between northeastern Kenyans and the central government is advantageous to al-Shabaab. Discontented locals are less likely to provide information to the police and may even serve as a pool of recruits. Therefore, al-Shabaab actively tries to deepen a sense of conflict through propaganda casting the Kenyan government as anti-Muslim. On May 21, fighters stormed two mosques in Garissa County to deliver lectures claiming al-Shabaab was on the side of northeastern Muslims and warning locals not to collaborate with the government.
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