Malawian faces terror charges after arrest at SGR station

A Malawian national was has been charged with collecting information by drawing a sketch plan of the Standard Gauge Railway terminus in Mombasa for use in commission of a terrorist act.

Mr Kristen Prince Kishombe, who claims to be a professional footballer, was also charged with refusing to leave a place not intended for passengers at the Mombasa SGR terminus.

The accused denied the charges when appeared before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Julius Nang’ea and was detained for seven days to allow the police to complete investigations.

Prosecuting counsel Lydia Kagori sought to have the accused detained for 15 days to allow completion of investigations.

Ms Kagori said the accused is suspected to belong to a terrorist organisation and that police had no time to record statements.

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She further said police had confiscated laptops and three mobile phones from the accused, which have been taken for analysis at the cyber crime office in Nairobi.

“The investigation officer is expected to liaise with his counterparts in Nairobi and also the Malawian Embassy,” said Ms Kagori.

The accused told the court that the Immigration Department gave him a transit visa Kenya and that he did not know any terrorist group.

“All they (police) are doing is to implicate me, I am a football player, other passengers were taking photos of the terminus, I have a sketch with few details,” said the accused.

The accused further said he has passed through other countries and there has been no problem and wondered that if he was really a terrorist why would he not do it in Nairobi.

According to the prosecution, the accused committed the offences on August 28 this year at 5.30pm at the terminus.

The case will be mentioned on September 7 for further directions.