Kenyan linked to Lamu kidnap terrorist group

A Kenyan has been identified as the leader of the Somali pirates who abducted a British tourist two weeks ago.

Lamu West district commissioner Stephen Ikua appealed to residents to help track down Mr Famau Kahale, who has been missing since the September 10 raid at Kiwayu Safari beach resort.

“The moment the hotel was attacked, we knew he must be the one responsible because from the look of the issues, the attackers must be people conversant with of the facility,” said Mr Ikua.

He added: “He defected to the other side of Somalia in 2006 and joined the former Somalia Islamic Courts and later al Shabaab. He is now a ring leader of a small group of pirates,”

Mr Ikua said the suspect had been sending threatening messages to government officials.

“He has been a fugitive for close to seven years and has been writing messages and calling to threaten our officers. We have been looking for him. It is just a matter of time before we apprehend him,” he said.

Mr Ikua said the suspect, whose home is in Lamu East constituency, is holed up in southern Somalia’s port town of Kismayu.

“He was part of pirates who hijacked a fishing vessel and held some Indian sailors hostage last year. We tried to arrest him but he fled to Somalia and has remained there,” said the administrator.

Husband killed

Two suspects have been charged with robbery with violence and kidnapping. (READ: Tebbutt attack: Kenyan man charged with kidnap)

The suspects, Mr Ali Babitu Kololo, 25 and Mr Issa Sheikh Saadi, 37, denied kidnapping Ms Judith Tebbutt, a Briton.

They were also accused of robbing Ms Tebbutt of her handbag containing clothing of undetermined value, two national passports of unknown value and unknown amount of money.

Mrs Tebbutt’s husband, David, was killed in the raid on the night of September 10 and 11 in Kiunga, Lamu County.

This was the first time suspected pirates attacked a hotel in Kenya, killed a tourist and held another to ransom. Previously, Somali pirates have been targeting ships, hijacking close to 200 vessels every year.

The hearing continues on October 25.