A well known Mombasa lawyer is among twenty two suspects arrested in a sweeping counter terrorism operation spanning Nairobi, Mombasa, Kapseret, Moyale and Marsabit. Andrew Chacha Mwita was detained on Friday in Mombasa after what investigators described as a targeted sting by the Anti Terrorism Police Unit.
He is accused of financing terrorism as part of a wider network of facilitators, recruiters and supporters.
Mwita appeared before the Kahawa Law Courts on Monday where detectives requested a twenty day custodial order to hold him as investigations continue. The ruling is expected on Wednesday.
Several other suspects linked to the same operation are also awaiting decisions on extended detention.
A hearing for four Nairobi based suspects, Richard Muriuki Murimi, Said Galgalo Duba, Ali Mohamed and Dhalha Abdi Mohamed, was deferred to Tuesday.
In Kapseret, police tracked down Anthony Odhiambo Odwuor, whose case will be determined on 25 November when the court rules on a fifteen day detention request.
The court is also expected to decide on 26 November whether two Mombasa based suspects, Miriam Ali Abdalla and Aisha Abdullahi, will be held for a further twenty days. On the same day, six suspects arrested around Marsabit, identified as Fatuma Yabalo Guyo, Jilo Arafti Halake, Ajirena Halake Sora, Safia Ture Bidu, Kabale Duba Ali and Abdisalam Hassan Charfi, will learn the outcome of a thirty day custodial application filed against them.
Hearings for the remaining seven suspects picked up during the operation continue at the Kahawa court as investigators push to map what they believe is an extended network servicing extremist groups across the country.
