Two men have each been sentenced to 30 years in prison for their roles in the 2019 terrorist attack at the DusitD2 Hotel Complex in Nairobi. The ruling was delivered at the Kahawa Anti-Terror Court by Lady Justice Diana Kavedza on Thursday.
Mohamed Abdi Ali, 61, received 15 years for 14 counts related to facilitating a terrorist act, and another 15 years for conspiracy to commit an offence. His co-accused, 22-year-old Hussein Abdille Ali, was handed an identical sentence. Both sentences will run consecutively.
The court found the duo guilty of supporting the terror operation that led to the death of 21 people and left many others injured. During the trial, the prosecution, led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Duncan Ondimu, presented compelling evidence, including testimony from 45 witnesses.
Among them was American national Joseph Spindler, whose son Jason was one of the victims. In an emotional testimony, Spindler told the court, “I’m not here for revenge but for justice. Jason was a visionary, a doer, and a survivor. He deserved a future, not to be buried under the debris caused by a terrorist’s suicide vest.”
The impact of the attack went beyond human casualties. The court heard that DusitD2’s business significantly declined after the incident, with occupancy dropping to 55% and daily foot traffic reducing to around 200 people.
Justice Kavedza emphasized that the sentence not only holds the culprits accountable but also delivers long-overdue justice to survivors and victims’ families. She noted that the case marked one of the most thorough counter-terrorism investigations in Kenya, tracking not just the attackers but those who funded and facilitated the operation.
The Assistant DPP had urged the court to impose the maximum penalty, arguing it would serve as a strong warning to others who might consider supporting terrorism in any form.
By Lucky Anyanje
