The Director of Public Prosecutions has scored a landmark victory against a Somali national accused of terrorism-related activities linked to Al-Shabaab, with the Kahawa Law Courts finding him guilty on multiple charges.
The case sheds light on Kenya’s intensified efforts to combat radicalisation and prosecute those who recruit and facilitate extremist operations.
Abdikarim Hassanow Hassan, also known as Ali, was found guilty under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012, after evidence presented in court showed he orchestrated a scheme to radicalise and recruit a minor, while providing support for travel to Somalia to join the terrorist group.
The court confirmed that on or before April 2, 2024, at Kehancha Township in Migori County, Hassan actively participated in Al-Shabaab, a group listed as a terrorist organisation under Kenya Gazette Notice No. 12585 of 2010.
The prosecution revealed that Hassan organised meetings advocating for Al-Shabaab and fully understood the group’s extremist intentions.
He specifically targeted a minor, luring the victim with promises of money, military training, and religious incentives, and assisted in planning the minor’s travel, including providing financial and logistical support.
Prosecution Counsel Kennedy Amwayi told the court that Hassan played a central role in grooming the minor for terrorism.
The court found the victim’s testimony credible, consistent, and vital in showing a deliberate pattern of indoctrination and preparation.
In delivering the verdict, Ombewa ruled that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
He concluded that Hassan was the mastermind, financier, recruiter, and radicaliser behind the terrorism-related acts.
Authorities said the conviction highlights the evolving methods of terror networks and the risks minors face to radicalisation.
Officials noted that the case sets an important precedent for prosecuting those who facilitate terror, reinforcing Kenya’s ongoing anti-radicalisation strategies.
The court has set April 20, 2026, for sentencing, signaling continued attention to holding individuals accountable and protecting vulnerable citizens from extremist influence.
The ODPP stressed that countering radicalisation remains central to national security and public safety. The ruling makes it clear that anyone who recruits, finances, or facilitates terrorism, particularly targeting minors, will face firm legal consequences, reinforcing future anti-terrorism prosecutions in Kenya.
