Three youths charged in Isiolo with attempt to join Shabaab

Three suspects have been charged with attempting to go for Al-Shabaab terrorism training in Somalia.

Rayan Busu John, alias Patrick Lokokor John, 21, and two others aged 17 were arrested by the Anti-Terror Police Unit at the Dagahaley refugee camp in Garissa County.

The three live in Isiolo Town.

They denied the charges before Isiolo Resident Magistrate Joan Irura.

They were charged that on August 20 at the Dagahaley refugee camp in Dagahaley Town they attempted to attend terrorism training in Somalia to commit terrorism.

Senior Principal Prosecution Counsel Jalson Makori also charged them with being members of Al-Shabaab.

Defence lawyer Kiogora Mugambi asked the court to free the trio on lenient bail.

NOT A FLIGHT RISK

Since all the accused are students with known parents and hail from Isiolo Town, they were not a flight risk, he argued.

Their parents were in court to “show solidarity,” he said.

The court released them on a Sh500,000 bond each with two sureties of a similar amount or they deposit cash bail of Sh300,000.

The court also ordered that the suspects be remanded at the Nanyuki GK Prison pending bail processing.

The case will be mentioned on October 4 to fix a hearing date.

The three were charged barely a day after a another terror suspect, Yasin Ali Nasha, alias Issak Hassan Mohamed, who is believed to be recruiting youths to join Al-Shabaab, was released on a Sh1 million bond after he denied terrorism charges.

Mr Nasha is said to be a key Al-Shabaab recruiter based in Moyale.

The suspect, who holds a Tanzanian passport, was arrested on September 15 in Isiolo Town.