Kwale court frees 17 suspected terror recruits
A Kwale court has on February 4, 2019 freed without charges 17 youths who were detained over suspicion that they were Al-Shabaab recruits. PHOTO | FADHILI FREDRICK | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The youths, aged between 18 and 28, were arrested on January 28, in a two-bedroom house in Samburu, Kwale County.
- Police had on Tuesday last week requested to hold the suspects for one week to allow conclusion of investigations.
- Kwale Chief Magistrate Dominica Nyambu said extensive enquiries have satisfied the investigation that there are no grounds to charge them with terrorism offences.
Seventeen youths arrested on suspicion of being members of Al-Shabaab terror group have been unconditionally released by a Kwale court.
The youths, aged between 18 and 28, were arrested on January 28, in a two-bedroom house in Samburu, Kwale County.
Police had on Tuesday last week requested to hold the suspects for one week to allow conclusion of investigations.
'NO CHARGES'
Kwale Chief Magistrate Dominica Nyambu said extensive enquiries have satisfied the investigation that there are no grounds to charge them with terrorism offences.
"The Director of Public Prosecution has found no charges against the suspects and they are all discharged and file closed," ruled Ms Nyambu.
Those discharged are Nuru Sofia Alamini, Mr Wilfred Mandisa Ngenge, Mr Gerald Irungu Nyambura, Mr Joseph Momanyi Obonyo, Mr Albert Kilunga Abagaressa, Mr Joseph Mrabu Charo, Mr Daniel Safari Kadenga, Mr Michael Muye Mwang'ombe, Mr Christiano Krisha Daido.
Others include Jackson Abio Dadoo, Mr Christopher Najib Saro, Mr Karisa Habel Randy, Mr Kelvrin Ogongo Nyakundi, Mr Robert Moreno Shaban, Isnino Fardia Hussein, Mr Edwin Moroni and Mr Collins Maina Mbogo.
Their lawyer Raphael Chimera hailed the ruling, saying that the prosecution did not have evidence to sustain the charges and that the court released them unconditionally.
"As far as I'm concerned the suspects are now free because the investigations showed that they do not have links with the terror group," he said, adding there will be no further charges against them.
The Kenyan government has intensified its fight against terrorism with more people being arrested following the attack on a Nairobi hotel-office complex which saw at least 21 people dead.
