Garissa court jails two men for 30 years over 2019 Dadaab terror attack that killed officers
The prosecution said the convicts, described as highly trained sharpshooters with advanced combat skills, were actively involved in the coordinated attack.
A judge in Garissa has sentenced two men to 30 years in prison each for their role in a deadly terrorist attack in Dadaab sub-county in 2019.
Justice J. Omwange of the Garissa Law Courts sentenced Farah Ahmed Sambul, alias Faragon, and Minaj Hassan Khalid, also known as Daar, after the prosecution proved they played a key role in the IED attack that targeted a vehicle transporting uniformed officers.
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The court found the two guilty of committing a terrorist act, contrary to Section 4(2) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and of being members of a terrorist group, in violation of Section 24 of the same law.
According to the prosecution led by Edsan Papai, the convicts, described as highly trained sharpshooters with advanced combat skills, were actively involved in the coordinated attack, during which an IED detonated beneath a Land Rover vehicle carrying security personnel.
The explosion was followed by a volley of gunfire aimed at the vehicle, resulting in multiple fatalities.
Arrested in Somali
The two were later arrested on October 22, 2019, near Dobley, Somalia, in possession of three AK-47 rifles, a pistol, 287 rounds of ammunition, and a black flag bearing symbols commonly associated with the Al-Shabaab terror group.
Investigations revealed that the weapons recovered during the arrest matched those used in the Dadaab attack, solidifying the link between the suspects and the crime.
In his ruling, Justice Omwange said the prosecution had produced satisfactory evidence tying the two to the attack.
“The accused persons were not only in possession of weapons used in the attack but also had affiliations with a terrorist organisation,” Omwange ruled.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) welcomed the outcome, noting that this was the second successful terrorism conviction secured within the past week.
On 19 June 2025, the Kahawa Anti-Terror Court in Nairobi also handed a 30-year sentence to two individuals found guilty of facilitating the 2019 terror attack at the DusitD2 Hotel Complex.
The DPP said such convictions represent important milestones in the fight against terrorism and reaffirm the commitment of law enforcement agencies to ensuring justice for victims of violent extremism.
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