In a landmark judgment that brings closure to one of Kenya’s darkest days, a Nairobi court has sentenced two men to 30 years in prison each for their roles in aiding the deadly DusitD2 complex terror attack that rocked the nation in January 2019.
The two men, whose names were withheld for security reasons, were found guilty of facilitating the al-Shabab attackers, offering them logistical support and communication help before and after the attack. The suspects had been under trial for several years as the state pieced together damning digital and witness evidence.
The 2019 attack, which occurred at the upscale DusitD2 complex in Nairobi’s Riverside area, left 21 people dead, dozens injured, and hundreds traumatized. The sophisticated operation involved gunmen and suicide bombers and was later claimed by Somali-based militant group al-Shabab.
Delivering the ruling, Senior Principal Magistrate Martha Nanzushi emphasized that terrorism will not be tolerated and those who support it, directly or indirectly, will face the full force of the law.
“These individuals may not have carried weapons, but they provided the oxygen that kept the plot alive. The justice system must send a clear message: accomplices to terror are terrorists too,” said the judge.
Families of the victims expressed relief and closure, with many saying justice had been delayed but not denied. Survivors who attended the hearing applauded the judiciary for standing firm against terror.
The ruling comes as Kenya strengthens its anti-terrorism legislation and steps up surveillance to prevent future attacks.
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