>> reporter: ikrima was not a fighter. was to rise through al shabaab ranks with the help of storm's intelligence agencies he worked for. this is one of the places they used to meet, a shopping mall in the heart of nairobi, nondescript hotel tucked away inside. storm, he says, handing over material to ikrima, material he says that intelligence officials knew all about. >> he had been asking me for money. he had been asking me for equipment and i had been giving him what he asked for. >> reporter: why? >> that to gather intelligence information and to maintain our network in somalia. >> reporter: this essentially builds him up because he has money he can provide? >> that's right. >> reporter: money and equipment wasn't all storm gave ikrima. he was introducing two major al qaeda franchises. >> this is ikrima since the 23rd of february, 2010, where -- and