3 Suspected Al-Shabaab Militants Charged With Terrorism

Three suspected Al-Shabaab operatives have been charged with conspiracy to commit a terrorist Act.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in an update on Thursday, said the trio attempted to kidnap a foreign national working at a construction site in Mandera County on February 18.

“The court heard that Isaq Cabdi Xasan, alias Issack Mohammed, a Somali national, along with Kenyans Noor Yakub Ali and Yusuf Maalim, conspired, on or before the 18th of February 2025, with others not before the court, to carry out a terrorist act. The act involved the kidnapping of a foreign national working at the Sinohydro Corporation Limited Sewerage Construction site in Mandera town,” read the statement in part.

The three were also charged with being members of the outlawed Al-Shabaab terrorist group.

The suspects who were arraigned before Principal Magistrate Hon. Gideon Kiage pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Noor and Yusuf were also jointly charged with facilitating Isaq Cabdi Xasan, a Somali national, to fraudulently apply for a Kenyan identity card while Isaq was separately charged with attempting to obtain a Kenyan identity card under false pretenses.

“This attempt occurred at the Mandera County Registrar of Persons office, where he was found to be unlawfully present in Kenya. Isaq pleaded guilty to these charges and was convicted,” ODPP stated.

The prosecution sought the maximum sentence for the two counts for which Isaq was convicted but the court reserved sentencing to April 4, 2025.

Meanwhile, Yusuf was also charged with allegedly providing false information to a public servant.

“Prosecution opposed the release of the accused persons on bail. The court directed that a pre-bail report be prepared and set the bond ruling for 4th April 2025,” ODPP added.

The three suspects are remanded at the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.