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Victor Bwire’s first assignment was to collect information on how one could safely move from North Eastern region to Nairobi He moved on a motorbike from Nairobi to Mandera collecting crucial information that included counting the number of roadblocks The second assignment was to keep an eye on the iconic KICC building and share intelligence reports with the terror group PAY ATTENTION: Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.ke’s Patreon programme. A man who was found guilty of conspiring with Al-Shabaab terrorists to blow up the iconic Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) has been jailed to 20 years. Terror convict Victor Bwire in court. Photo: TUKO.co.ke. Source: Original Milimani Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi found Victor Bwire guilty of two counts: conspiracy to commit a terrorist act and collection of information to facilitate a terror attack. Ochoi, in his judgment delivered on Friday, February 24, noted the prosecution had proved beyond any reasonable doubt that the convict and his accomplices had every intention to bring down the iconic building that can accommodate up to 10000 people. READ ALSO Supreme Court Rules LGBTQ Members Have Right to Form NGO Organisation in Kenya “It is my finding also that the prosecution has proved both counts beyond reasonable doubt and he is convicted of the same,” the magistrate said. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram – get the most important news directly in your favourite app! Pseudo Facebook accounts According to evidence presented in court, Bwire used pseudo accounts to collect critical information needed by the Somali-based terror group to bomb the 28-storey building situated at the heart of Kenya’s capital. The court was informed that on January 23, 2019, the accused collected information on KICC’s security system and relayed it to his accomplices in Somalia through his Facebook accounts. It was established that Bwire, a cousin to another detained terror convict, Bwire Elgiva, had three Facebook accounts that he used to relay information to al-Shabaab militants. The judge, relying on forensic analysis report on phones recovered from the accused, established that there was communication between him and one Mohamed Yare Abdalla, a wanted terror suspect. READ ALSO Tana River Boy With Disability Fails to Report to Form One, Says its Poverty and Drought “The collection and transmission of information must be looked at cumulatively. It was for no other purpose but for the commission of a terrorist act. The suspect is guilty of both counts,” Justice Ochoi observed in his judgement. Keeping eye on KICC The prosecution informed the court that Bwire was first tasked with surveying police operations along the main roads connecting Nairobi to the North Eastern counties of Garissa and Mandera. Using his motorbike, the convict went on a road trip from Nairobi to Elwak and Mandera, noting down all roadblocks and monitoring how police conduct their inspections. He relayed all this information to Abadalla, who then gave him the second assignment of keeping an eye on KICC and sharing crucial leads that could facilitate the attack. The assignment included checking how many entrances the building has, how security searches are conducted, location of CCTV cameras, loading zones, parking lots and toilets among others. READ ALSO Fashion Designer Calls out Former Biden Official Over Stolen Luggage, Shares Photos This information was equally channeled to Adadalla to help him plan the attack with his team in Somalia. Luckily, detectives got wind of this sinister plan in good time and arrested Bwire, who admitted sharing information with Abdalla using three fake Facebook accounts. During mitigation, Bwire pleaded for a non-custodial sentence, arguing that the offense he committed did not warrant such a harsh sentence. However, the prosecution objected to his plea, submitting that such a move would jeopardise the ongoing search for Abdalla, who is now one of the most wanted international terrorists. Kindiki Kithure’s assurance Bwire’s sentencing comes barely weeks after Interior CS Kindiki Kithure said the police have quashed several attempts by terrorists to launch attacks in Kenya in the past three months. In December 2022, intelligence reports indicated the Somali-based terror group had hatched plans to launch attacks in Nairobi and parts of Mombasa.
“The current crackdown on al-shabaab terror cells in Somalia which is spearheaded by local community leaders with the support of the Federal Government of Somalia has tremendously weakened this militant group. Our security agencies are alert to ensure that these militants do not cross into our territory to keep them at bay now that this terror group is at its weakest,” said Kindiki during an update of state of security of the nation after his 100 days in office.
Source:Tuko