Terror suspect arrested in Mara charged

A suspected member of the al Shabaab arrested in Masaai Mara Game reserve was Monday charged in a Nairobi court with plotting terror attacks in the country.

Mr Abdi Rizzack Muktar Edow faced five counts of terrorism linking him to an attack in Mandera on June 1, 2014 where security agents reportedly killed two “renowned Al -Shabaab members”.

He is also accused of holding a radicalisation meeting scheduled for February 2 at the Masjid Musa mosque where he allegedly invited people “to further the cause of the terror group.”

The prosecution said Mr Muktar owned a saloon car which he hired to one Sheikh Hassan on May 31, a day before the vehicle was intercepted at a road block where its occupants defied an order to stop, prompting an exchange of gunfire that led to the death of the two known al Shabaab members.

“The said vehicle was searched and eight hand grenades were recovered amongst other paraphenalia...the accused was arrested on June 2 at the Masai Mara Game Reserve with the help of mobile phone tracking, “prosecutor Duncan Ondimu told the court.

He asked the court to deny the suspect bond “due to the prevailing security situation in the country “and the ruling on his request will be made Tuesday morning.

The prosecutor said anti-terrorism sleuths had presented a sworn affidavit linking Mr Muktar to planned terror attacks.

Mr Muktar denied the first charge stating he facilitated a terrorism act by providing the vehicle that was used in the May 31 attack in Mandera town. He also denied being a member of the al Shabaab.

The prosecution said that on June 2 at Talek area within Narok County, he was found in possession of a mobile phone which had articles for use in instigating the commission of terror.

He was also accused of collecting information for use in committing terror after a video “for use in the commission of a terrorist act” was allegedly extracted from his cell phone.

“The accused was found to be in constant communication with al Shabaab members in Somalia after his phone was subjected to a forensic analysis,” Mr Ondimu added.

The prosecutor said that when the suspect was arrested, his mobile phone had details of invitations he sent to people to attend a meeting on February 2 at the Masjid Musa.

“The agenda of the meeting was for the furtherance of the cause of the al Shabaab terrorist group in contravention to Section 25 of the prevention of terrorism Act,” he said.

“This court should take judicial notice that there are a number of terror related attacks in the country...due to the seriousness of the offences and the possible penalty of a 130 year jail term in case of a conviction, he should remain incarcerated until the completion of the case, ”Mr Ondimu said.