A 32-year-old Tanzanian has been jailed for 45 years by Lamu Senior Resident Magistrate (SRM), Allan Temba who found him guilty of six counts of terror offenses.
Abdul Harun Karim’s conviction followed the proof by the prosecution that he was a member of the outlawed terrorist group, Al Shabaab.
In his ruling, Temba said the prosecution had proved that Karim was indeed found with explosive materials illegally on June 24, 2016 in Kiwayu, Lamu by area residents.
The SRM noted that the prosecution witnesses had testified that the accused had sought information in connection with a terrorist cell in Somalia, with a view to joining some of his friends who had already made their way into the neighbouring country.
“The accused could not explain how he came into possession of the explosive IEDs when security agents nabbed him as he was trying to make his way to Somalia,” Temba stated.
Lamu County has in the past been used as recruitment ground for the youth by the Somali based Al-Shabaab.
However, the Kenya government has bolstered security by adding more than 15,000 security agents across the county.
The public in the region have also been sensitized to enforce the Nyumba Kumi intitiative in order to stamp out terrorist activities and other crimes in the area.
By Amenya Ochieng