Lamu:A court in Lamu has approved the detention of three men for a period of seven days as police investigate their alleged involvement in helping 55 individuals from Lamu East Sub-County cross into Somalia to potentially join the Al-Shabaab terror group.
According to Kenya News Agency, the order was issued by Principal Magistrate Peter Wasike after an application by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Counter-Terrorism Bureau, with support from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). The suspects, identified as Fauz Mohamed Faki, Jafar Abuhafsi Abu, and Muhdhar Noor Muhdhar, will be held at the Lamu Central Police Station during the investigation.
Court documents reveal that Faki was apprehended on September 24 in Tchundwa village, while Abu and Muhdhar were arrested the subsequent day in Tchundwa and Mbwajumwali, respectively. Initially detained at Faza Police Station, they were later transferred to Lamu.
The investigating officer, Corporal Benjamin Munene, indicated in affidavits that the suspects are being probed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012. The allegations include providing funds or services to terrorist groups, organizing meetings in support of terrorist activities, and aiding in terrorist offenses.
Police suspect the men facilitated the movement of approximately 41 individuals from Lamu East who are thought to have traveled to Somalia to join Al-Shabaab. The investigation also involves examining mobile phones and SIM cards seized during the arrests, believed to have been used for communication with the missing individuals and other suspects.
The prosecution initially sought a 30-day detention period to complete their investigation, citing the need to gather subscriber details, call data records, M-Pesa statements, and to conduct forensic examinations of the seized phones. They also plan to identify associates of the suspects, record witness statements, and conduct multi-agency interrogations. The prosecution argued that releasing the suspects could pose a flight risk and interfere with witnesses, emphasizing the case’s complexity and public security concerns.
The court has adjourned the case, scheduling the next hearing for Friday, October 9, 2026.
