Two suspects arrested taking photographs of GSU camp in Ruiru have been detained for 10 days to allow police to complete investigations into suspected terrorist activity.
Chief Magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot allowed the detention of James Mburu Ikaba and Miriam Njoki following an application by the prosecution that accused them of collecting information for purposes of committing a terrorist act.
“I allow the police to detain the two suspects for 10 days pending the conclusion of investigations because the offense they are facing is serious in nature following the recent attacks at Nanyuki Military camp and Manda in Lamu County,” added the Chief Magistrate.
In an affidavit filed by Sergeant Geoffrey Busolo, the two were arrested on January 4 this year, at the GSU Recce Company in Ruiru, and the reason for their arrest was duly explained to them.
“The suspects are being investigated for several terrorism-related offenses which include the collection of information contrary to the Anti-Terrorism Act 2012,” said prosecutor Joseph Kiarie.
Busolo added that before their arrest, the two suspects were in a Land cruiser which was parked outside the GSU camp.
It is said that the suspects were taking photos of the Ruiru company premises and upon intervention by the GSU officers on duty they sped off.
Ikaba is said to have been the driver and suspected owner of the said motor vehicle while Njoki was a passenger.
The court heard that on a quick search of the motor vehicle, the officers on duty recovered seven rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Further, the officers were led to Ikaba’s house in Marurui Estate, Kiambu County and recovered several weapons including a pistol, a shotgun and 45 rounds of ammunition.
Appearing at a Milimani court before Senior Principal Magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot, the defense objected the application to detain the two claiming that Ikaba is a licensed firearm owner.
They further argued that the two suspects had already spent two days in custody thus ten days were too many.
Cheruiyot ruled that he has found compelling reasons to hold the two until the investigations in the matter are complete.
The orders were granted after the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit sought for extension of time saying that they could not hold them for more than 24hours as that would amount to a violation of the suspect's rights as enriched in the constitution
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The matter will be mentioned on January 16, 2020.
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