By Dorothy Musyoka
Three men have been charged with conspiring to commit a terrorist act following their involvement in a planned kidnapping at a construction site in Mandera town.
The charges were presented at the Kahawa Law Courts, where Isaq Cabdi Xasan, a Somali national, along with Kenyans Noor Yakub Ali and Yusuf Maalim, appeared before Principal Magistrate Hon. Gideon Kiage.
The prosecution revealed that the three men conspired, on or before February 18, 2025, with individuals not before the court, to abduct a foreign national working at the Sinohydro Corporation Limited Sewerage Construction site in Mandera.
Additionally, they were charged with being members of the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, a designated outlawed organization in Kenya.
“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,” explained the ODPP.
On February 21, 2025, it was confirmed that the accused were linked to Al-Shabaab, a group listed in Kenyan Gazette Notice No. 2326 of April 7, 2015.
According to the ODPP, the three men pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy charges, while Noor and Yusuf faced an additional charge of facilitating Isaq in fraudulently obtaining a Kenyan identity card.
The card was issued on July 3, 2024, in Mandera town, and both Noor and Yusuf denied the charges.
Isaq was separately charged with attempting to acquire a Kenyan identity card under false pretenses. He had falsely claimed to be a Kenyan national at the Mandera County Registrar of Persons office. Isaq pleaded guilty to this charge and was convicted.
The prosecution has sought the maximum sentence for these crimes, and the court will issue a sentencing ruling on April 4, 2025.
Yusuf also faces an additional charge of providing false information to a public servant. The prosecution has opposed the release of the accused on bail.
Additionally, the court has ordered a pre-bail report and will make a ruling on bond during the next hearing scheduled for April 4, 2025.
The accused have been remanded at the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.