The High Court on Thursday found two men guilty of aiding a deadly terrorist attack carried out by al Qaeda-linked militants in 2019 at the Dusit D2 hotel and office complex in Nairobi, which left 21 people dead and several others injured.
Justice Diana Mochache delivered the ruling on May 22, 2025, convicting Hussein Mohamed Abdille Ali and Mohamed Abdi Ali for their role in the attack, which was claimed by the Somalia-based al Shabaab militant group.
The assault began on January 15, 2019, when five gunmen stormed the Dusit complex in Nairobi’s Riverside area, launching a siege that lasted over 12 hours.
The government later confirmed that all the attackers were killed and identified them as Somali nationals affiliated with al Shabaab.
CCTV footage from the scene showed five armed men carrying out the attack, which also involved a suicide bomber.
Following investigations, Hussein Abdille and Mohamed Abdi were arrested later in 2019.
A third suspect, Mire Abdullahi, had earlier entered a plea bargain and was convicted.
All three were accused of providing logistical and financial support to the attackers, including helping them acquire forged identity documents used to escape a refugee camp prior to the attack.
The court heard that the prosecution, led by Duncan Ondimu from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), presented evidence from 45 witnesses.
On January 21, 2025, the court ruled that the accused had a case to answer.
The DPP argued that the state had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Hussein Abdille and Mohamed Abdi were jointly charged with conspiracy to commit an offence contrary to Section 23(2) as read with Section 23(4) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Cap 59B), and committing a terrorist act contrary to Section 4(2) of the same Act.
Additionally, Abdille Ali faced one count of facilitating a terrorist act, while Abdi Ali was charged with 14 counts of facilitating a terrorist act.
“I find the accused guilty and accordingly I convict them,” Justice Mochache declared, noting that sentencing will be delivered next month.
Kenya has faced several attacks from al Shabaab in recent years.
The group was behind the 2013 Westgate Mall attack, which killed 67 people, and the 2015 Garissa University massacre, where 148 students lost their lives.
Al Shabaab claims the attacks are in retaliation for Kenya’s military involvement in Somalia.
The convictions mark a significant development in Kenya’s ongoing efforts to bring justice to victims of terrorism and dismantle extremist support networks operating within its borders.
