In 2024, the government strengthened its fight against terrorism by using both direct military action and diplomatic efforts to safeguard the country.

The key criminal justice actors worked together in the whole-of-government approach to secure convictions of terrorists and dismiss appeals challenging their sentences.

In 2024, dozens of terrorism-related cases were successfully concluded in courts in favor of government, bolstering the war against terrorism.  

In one of the landmark cases, the High Court upheld the 33-year sentence for Westgate attack convicts, Mohammed Ahmed Abdi and Hussein Hassan Mustafa, who are members of Al-Shabaab terrorist group.

While dismissing their appeal, the Judge noted that the terrorists deserved an even stiffer penalty going by the magnitude of heinous crimes committed resulting in the death of 62 people and grievous injuries to others in 2013.

During the year under review, a Nairobi court jailed Al-Shabaab terrorists Abdimajit Hassan Adan and Mohamed Osman Nane for nineteen years for plotting to attack key government within Nairobi. Lydiah Nyawira Mburu, their female accomplice was handed a three-year jail term for forging an official document.

The duo and their partners in crime were tried in court in connection to the Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) intercepted during an intelligence-led operation by security agencies in Merti, Isiolo County in 2018.

Some of the deadly weapons and explosives that the terrorists were found with include 110 Trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosives, five AK47 riffles, 1099 rounds of 7.62* 39mm calibre ammunition, 36 gun magazines, 36 unprimed hand grenades, 18 pairs of grenade primers, five military grade projectiles, three modified Nokia phones and three military knives.

The case set precedence in many fronts including admission of expert evidence and use of financial analysis. The court also took judicial notice of Somalia being listed as a designated country under Declaration of Designated Countries 2015, in its interpretation of membership to a terrorist organization.

Last year, a landmark case against ISIS terrorists that has been pending in court since 2016 was successfully concluded, bolstering the war against terrorism.

A Nairobi court jailed ISIS terrorist Mohamed Abdi Ali alias Abu Fidaa for twelve (12) years for plotting an anthrax terror attack. He was convicted for being a member of ISIS terror group, organizing a meeting in support of terrorist group, recruitment of members to a terrorist group, collection of information and possession of articles connected with the commission of terrorist act, which are offences under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). He was an ISIS adherent with links to affiliates in countries such as Somalia, Libya and Syria.

This is the first case where the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration exercised powers under the Prisons Act in the revocation of remission in the interest of public security and order.

Another ISIS terrorist Jackton Jacob Kanoti alias Abdul Hakim was jailed for thirty (30) years for involvement in terrorism activities in the country.

Kanoti was arrested in Siaya in possession of terrorism related materials and information such as videos and social media chats promoting terror.

In Siaya, a court sentenced terrorist Abdul Najib Mohamed previously known as George Oluoch Awiti to serve twenty (20) years in prison for involvement in terrorism activities.

He was convicted on charges of being a member of ISIS terrorist group, collection of terrorism related information and possession of articles related to terrorist acts.

In support of the watertight case against the terrorist, the prosecution presented compelling forensic evidence of his mobile phone, SIM card and a compact disk, which contained extremist materials such as audios and videos portraying terrorists like Aboud Rogo and Osama Bin Laden as martyrs. Awiti was also found in possession of content encouraging extremism and inciting disobedience against the Kenyan government. Awiti was arrested at his residence in Hawinga, Siaya County while in possession of the extremist materials.

Terrorists and other extremist elements use such extremist content to radicalize and recruit innocent youth into terrorist groups. They spread the content using social media and other platforms to influence unsuspecting youth to join terrorist groups and other extremist movements.  It is therefore a major win against violent extremism and terrorism when purveyors of such bad content are netted and jailed. This case also signifies that terrorist groups are increasingly targeting regions that have not been traditionally affected by terrorism, hence the need for vigilance across the country to deal with the terrorist threat.

During the year in focus, an appellate court in Nairobi also upheld a ten (10) year sentence handed to terrorist Ismael Mona Otieno aka Dida Muhajir, who was found guilty of engaging in online radicalization and recruitment.

Otieno was convicted on several counts of possession of articles connected with the commission of a terrorist act. He was a member of ISIS terrorist group and was hired to translate Arabic materials into Kiswahili for dissemination to members. He was arrested in July 2019 at JKIA while returning from Saudi Arabia, kicking off investigations that found overwhelming evidence linking him to online radicalization web and plans to carry out terror attacks in the country.

A number of terror related cases are also ongoing in different courts across the country with most of them in Nairobi, Coast and Northeastern regions.

The government is optimistic about winning the cases with the current trajectory of successful conversion of intelligence into evidence to secure convictions.

Additionally, the continued consideration of circumstantial evidence by the courts and progressive interpretation of POTA will result in the jailing of more terrorists.

The government also continues to explore alternative legal actions such as deportations, declaration of prohibited immigrants and listing of specified entities to counter terrorism.

Security agencies continue to mount operations in the country especially in Lamu and Northeastern regions, which have degraded the terror threat and reduced terror attacks.

Other than hard power, the government is also employing soft power strategies to prevent and counter terrorism, which are bearing fruits.

There is need for members of the public to support government in the fight against terrorism by sharing information on terrorism activities for action.