By Grace Gilo
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured a 30-year prison sentence for two individuals linked to the Al Shabaab militant group convicted of terrorism-related offences.
In a ruling delivered at the Garissa Law Courts, Hon. Justice J. Omwange sentenced Farah Ahmed Sambul, alias Faragon, and Minaj Hassan Khalid, alias Daar, to 30 years’ imprisonment each.
“The two were found guilty of committing a terrorist act, contrary to Section 4(2) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and of being members of a terrorist group, in violation of Section 24 of the same Act,” stated the ODPP.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the court heard that the convicts—both highly trained sharpshooters with advanced combat skills—were directly involved in a deadly 2019 terror attack in Dadaab sub-county in which an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated beneath a Land Rover transporting uniformed officers, resulting in multiple fatalities.
The assailants then opened fire on the vehicle in an attack that occurred approximately 15 kilometres from the location where the two were later apprehended.
They were arrested on 22nd October 2019 near Dobley, Somalia, in possession of three AK-47 rifles, a pistol, 287 rounds of ammunition, and a black flag bearing symbols commonly associated with Al-Shabaab.
“Forensic analysis confirmed the weapons matched those used in the Dadaab attack,” ODPP revealed.
In his judgment, Hon. Omwange noted that the suspects’ conduct, the possession of terrorist paraphernalia and the circumstances surrounding their arrest provided compelling evidence of their involvement in Al-Shabaab operations.
The case was prosecuted by Edsan Papai.
This marks the second successful terrorism conviction secured by the DPP within a week.
“On 19th June 2025, the Kahawa Anti-Terror Court in Nairobi handed down a similar 30-year sentence to two individuals for facilitating a terrorist attack,” ODPP added.