Anti-terrorism authorities have dismantled one of the most sophisticated terror facilitation networks ever uncovered in Kenya, marking a major breakthrough in the ongoing campaign against extremism.
Nine individuals, including a prominent Nairobi-based lawyer, are expected to be arraigned in court in the coming days following intensive intelligence-led probes and a series of coordinated raids by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU). The lawyer’s identity is being withheld for legal reasons.
Central to the investigation are around 10 young recruits who were detained earlier this year while allegedly preparing to travel abroad. Their arrest proved crucial in uncovering the wider facilitation network.
These recruits are believed to have been radicalised through online channels and local contacts before being moved through Kenya to Puntland in northern Somalia and then to Yemen, increasingly used as transit hubs by individuals seeking to link up with ISIS affiliates amid heightened pressure on the group’s strongholds.
“It operates like a conveyor belt,” an ATPU senior officer explained. “Kenya is a transit corridor. Once recruits reach Puntland, arrangements are made to cross the Gulf of Aden into Yemen, where they connect with active ISIS cells.”
The lawyer, previously known for defending terror suspects in court, allegedly first became involved with the extremist network while representing radicalised youths facing terror charges.
“He initially acted as defence counsel in multiple terrorism cases,” an investigator said. “Over time, he is suspected to have shifted from legal representation to actively participating in the facilitation network.”
Authorities claim some of his legal fees were financed by ISIS-linked backers and that he later helped coordinate key operations within the network.
“It appears he was gradually integrated into the wider structure,” the official added. “His role eventually extended well beyond the courtroom.”
He is expected to face charges relating to terror financing, membership in a terrorist organisation, and participation in a criminal network, with formal charges to be confirmed when the suspects appear in court.
Investigators report having gathered “overwhelming” evidence linking the network to funding, logistical support, and movement of recruits to ISIS cells abroad, primarily via Puntland to Yemen.
Complex network exposed
Authorities describe the dismantled network as the largest terror facilitation operation detected by the ATPU to date, representing a significant tactical victory.
“Our message is clear: Kenya will not be a soft route for terror operations,” a senior official said. “We will follow the money wherever it leads, including into digital spaces such as cryptocurrency.”
Evidence reportedly includes bank transfers, hotel bookings, cross-border travel documents, and cryptocurrency transactions bypassing traditional banking systems.
“This is a highly organised facilitation network,” one security source noted. “We have financial experts, advocates, tour operators, hoteliers, and boda boda operators all collaborating to move funds, people, and information. The documentary evidence we have is substantial.”
The suspects are being held at ATPU facilities in Nairobi while officers finalise their case files. Prosecutors are expected to seek extended custody to allow thorough examination of digital devices, financial records, and communication logs.
These arrests come nearly 20 years into Kenya’s battle against terrorism, a struggle marked by major attacks and complex extremist networks crossing international borders. From the 1998 US embassy bombing in Nairobi to the 2013 Westgate Mall siege and the 2019 DusitD2 attack, Kenya has consistently been on the frontline of global jihadist threats.
This enduring menace has spurred multi-agency collaboration, the creation of specialised units like the ATPU, and the enactment of stringent counter-terrorism laws.
