By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
April 27, 2026 - The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured the conviction of a Somali national who has been jailed for 60 years for being a member of the terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
Abdikarim Hassanow Hassan, alias Ali, was sentenced on Monday by the Kahawa Magistrates’ Court after the prosecution presented four witnesses.
The court heard that Abdikarim targeted a minor and lured him with promises of financial gain, military training, and religious reward, gradually drawing him into extremist ideology.
He further facilitated the minor’s attempted journey from Migori County to Somalia to join the Al-Shabaab terrorist group, providing logistical guidance, travel routes, and financial support.
The court sentenced Hassanow to 10 years' imprisonment for being a member of Al-Shabaab, and an additional 10 years for organizing a meeting in support of a terrorist group.
He was also sentenced to 10 years for radicalization, another 10 years for recruiting members of a terrorist group, and an additional 10 years for facilitating recruitment of members of a terrorist group.
On the charge of financing travel for terrorism purposes, the court ordered him to serve a further 10 years' imprisonment.
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The court heard that on or before April 2, 2024, at Kehancha Township in Migori County, the accused was found to be a member of Al-Shabaab, an outlawed terrorist organisation under Kenya Gazette Notice No. 12585 of 2010, in contravention of the law.
He also organized a meeting knowing, or having reasonable grounds to believe, that its agenda supported a terrorist group.
The court ruled that evidence presented by prosecuting counsel Kennedy Amwayi demonstrated that the accused played a central role in influencing and preparing the minor for terrorism-related activities. The testimony of the victim was found to be credible and consistent, establishing a clear pattern of ideological indoctrination, planning, and facilitation.
“I make a finding that the prosecution established a troubling narrative of facilitation, ideology, and preparation and did prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused was the author, financier, recruiter, or radicalizer as charged in all counts,” ruled Justice Boaz Ombewa.
Justice Ombewa ordered that the sentences run concurrently.