Kenyan medic convicted of terrorism to know fate today

 

A terror convict charged with planning to establish an ISIS caliphate in Kenya and the East African region in 2016 will know his fate today.

A Nairobi court is set to decide what sentence to hand down to Mohamed Abdi Ali alias Abu Fidaa, alias Abu Shuhadaa, alias Abu Ramzi who was on April 12 charged with being a member of the ISIS terrorist group.

Ali, a medical doctor based at Wote in Makueni county was also found guilty of organizing a meeting in support of terrorist groups, recruitment of members to a terrorist group, collection of information, and possession of articles connected with the commission of terrorist acts.

According to the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the suspect a medical doctor was charged with several offences arising from the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011.

Why the convict could spend 90 years in Jail

While delivering the judgment, Milimani Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku ruled that the prosecution proved the case against Mohammed Abdi Ali beyond a reasonable doubt through testimonies from 26 witnesses, including the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), FBI from the US and Uganda Police.

The court, however, acquitted Nuseibah Mohamed Haji, Alias Umm Fidaa, and Alias Ummu Fidaa who had been charged together with the convict.

“Mohamed Abdi Ali was arrested on the 29th April 2016 at his residence in Wote Town within Makueni County, while Nuseibah Mohamed Haji was arrested at the Entebbe International Airport in the Republic of Uganda pursuant to investigations that linked them to the intended establishment of an ISIS caliphate in Kenya and East Africa” ODPP said in a statement.

The prosecution, led by Duncan Ondimu, had sought a custodial sentence of up to 90 years due to the seriousness of the offences and the impact they would have on the nation.

Ondimu cited the defenseless nature of the victims and the intelligence of the convict, implying that the suspect knew what he was doing and the fact that he would have used technology to perpetrate the crimes.

“During sentencing submission, the prosecution led by SPPC Duncan Ondimu, OGW, sought a custodial sentence of up to 90 years due to the seriousness of the offences and the impact they would have had on the country, the defenseless nature of the victims, the intelligence of the convict, who is a medical doctor, implying that he knew what he was doing, and the fact that he would have used technology to perpetrate the crimes,” ODPP explained.

It was reported that Ali’s network included medical experts with whom they planned to unleash a biological attack in Kenya using anthrax.

Kenya’s counter-terrorism policing has termed the conviction a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism.

“His incarceration is a major blow to ISIS especially with the fact that his collaborators ran away following enhanced counter-terrorism operations by security agencies. Multi-Agency Agency approach in the fight against terrorism is bearing fruits going by the increased number of convicted terrorists” NCTC said on X.

While thanking its partners who include the US government and Uganda’s Director of Criminal Investigations, the organisation urged States to continue partnering in the war on terrorism which it said was a transnational crime.

“We thank our partners for their unwavering support in the fight against terrorism and more specifically in their contribution to the conviction of this ISIS terrorist. Citizens are encouraged to support government efforts in fighting terrorism through reporting terror activities to security agencies for action” NCTC stated.

By Margaret Kalekye