A member of al-Shabaab who admitted plotting to launch a major
terror attack in Nairobi this month was on Thursday sentenced to 59
years in jail.
The 26-year-old Omar Abdi Aden, alias Salman Abdi, was convicted on his own plea of guilt.
He faced nine terrorism charges before a Nairobi
court. He is also to pay a fine of Sh2 million or serve an extra year
behind bars if he defaults.
The militant was arrested in a sting operation in
which police recovered suicide vests, grenades, explosives, guns and
bullets that were to be used to execute the terror attack.
A psychiatric report presented in court showed he was mentally fit to participate in the proceedings.
Chief magistrate Lucy Nyambura said the suspect
showed no remorse, and she penalised him on the weight of what the
outcome of the planned attacks would have been if they had not been
foiled.
Prosecutor Onesmus Towett told the court that Aden
was arrested alongside a suspected accomplice, Abdi Majid Yassin, alias
Ali Hussein, who has since denied the charges and is set for trial in
October.
“The two were among other suspects, who are still
at large, and are believed to be members of the outlawed Shabaab group,”
Mr Towett told the court.
He said through intelligence and police surveillance, it was
discovered that the suspects were in the process of committing terror
acts within the country and perhaps outside.
“They were operating within Nairobi and were arrested at a rented house in Eastleigh Estate,” he said.
The prosecutor said that on September 13, it became apparent that the terrorists were ready to strike.
“They were ready to carry out their illegal
mission,” said Mr Towett, adding that a joint operation commissioned by
the country’s security agents foiled the plot.
“The two were arrested after police moved to the location and laid an ambush in order to catch the suspects.”
Daily Nation
Daily Nation