Two Shabaab suspects jailed for illegal stay in Kenya

Two suspected Al Shabaab militants arrested in a sting operation in Nairobi after allegedly sneaking into the country from Somalia to conduct a mass recruitment drive have been jailed for a year for being in Kenya illegally.

Mr Jabreen Ahmad alias Harun Osama and Mohammed Salim Alias Daud pleaded guilty to a charge of being found unlawfully present in the country after they were arrested on February 25 along the Nairobi-Kamiti road.

But they denied separate charges linking them to terrorism.

Through an Arabic translator the prosecution said they were members of Al Shabaab terror group and were found with photographs and video downloads “used in instigating the commission of terrorist activities.”

Mr Ahmad was further charged with collection of information for preparation of terrorism activities, a charge he denied.

The court heard that on February 25 at about 10.00am he was found in possession of flash-disk containing details on how to assemble a bomb “ which was information for the use in instigating terror.”

The suspects allegedly arrived in Kenya on December 18, 2013 accompanied with a Scotland Yard spy who had infiltrated their ranks in Somalia, according to details of their arrest Nation obtained from a police officer.

They had been living in different parts of the city including Dagoretti Corner and later Kahawa West while intelligence bugged their rooms and monitored the communication, mainly in Arabic, which they exchanged with agents in Somalia.

According to the source who requested anonymity, the men were on a mission of mass recruitment since “locally, the Al- Qaeda supported cell had been destabilised and membership had dwindled.”
The source also said they were suspected to have been planning a major terror strike before they were arrested.

The men have been held since December over various terrorism related charges, including being found in possession of Al Shabaab military training videos, the prosecution said Thursday.
The prosecution said that on February 25 at around 10.00pm they were found unlawfully present along Nairobi -Kamiti Road as they did not have valid entry papers.
The suspects have also been charged with being members of an Al Shabaab terrorist cell after they were found in possession of video materials and hard disk retrieves “meant to be used in instigating the commission of a terrorist activity.”
MR Mohamoud is further charged with being found in possession of a photo of himself where he posed while holding an AK 47 rifle.
The police seized exhibits which include video clips of the suspects engaging in physical combat training in Somalia, the prosecution said.
Their trial begins on June 5.