A court has sentenced two men to 30 years in prison each for their role in the 2019 Dusit D2 Hotel terror attack that left 21 people dead and several others injured.
The Kahawa Anti-Terror Court on Thursday convicted 61-year-old madrassa teacher Mohamed Abdi Ali on 14 counts of facilitating a terrorist act. He received 15 years for each count, to run concurrently, along with an additional 15 years for conspiracy to commit a terrorist offense.
His co-accused, 22-year-old Hussein Mohamed Abdille Ali, was handed two separate 15-year sentences, one for conspiracy and another for facilitating a terrorist act. The court ordered that he serve the terms consecutively, amounting to a total of 30 years.
Lady Justice Diana Kavedza, while delivering the verdict, ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, establishing the duo’s involvement in supporting the deadly Al-Shabaab-led attack on January 15, 2019.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) had called for the harshest penalty, arguing that the scale of devastation caused by the siege warranted maximum punishment under anti-terror laws.
Victim Impact Report
During sentencing, the court reviewed a detailed victim impact report, which included testimony from survivors still grappling with the physical and emotional scars. One victim, the report revealed, lives with bullets still lodged in his body, causing ongoing health complications and mounting medical bills.
The court also heard emotional remarks from American citizen Joseph Spindler, the father of Jason Spindler, one of the victims killed in the attack. He described the devastating loss of his son, who was murdered during the siege, and the lasting void it left in their family.
The prosecution further highlighted the lasting blow to the local economy. Occupancy at the Dusit D2 complex dropped from full capacity to just 55 percent in the aftermath of the attack. Daily foot traffic also plunged from 2,500 to 200 visitors, leading to significant business losses and job cuts.
In her judgment, Justice Diana Kavedza acknowledged the deep emotional wounds the Dusit D2 terror attack left behind. She noted that Kenyans still carry the fear, pain, and trauma of that day but also the bravery of the victims.
She paid tribute to those who lost loved ones, livelihoods, and their health, stating that the ruling serves as a voice for the survivors who continue to seek closure.
She also recognized the massive investigative effort that followed the incident, calling it one of Kenya’s most extensive counter-terrorism operations.
“What followed was one of the most comprehensive counter-terrorism investigations in Kenya’s history, as law enforcement agencies pursued not only the attackers’ immediate associates but also financiers, facilitators, and logistical coordinators who enabled the attack,” the court observed.
