Insurance agent in city terror attack vehicles' covers held

Zipporah Wambui in the dock at a Milimani court. [George Njunge/Standard]

An insurance agent who allegedly facilitated the procurement of third-party covers for two vehicles used by the dusitD2 hotel attackers has been detained for 15 days pending the conclusion of investigations.

Zipporah Wambui, who appeared before Milimani Magistrate Martha Mutuku, was detained after the prosecution said they needed more time to complete investigations.

Ms Wambui was said to have facilitated the procurement of third-party cover for motor vehicle registration number KCN 340E and KCF 872R Toyota Fielder, which was recovered by the investigators from the compound of the main attacker, Ali Salim Gichunge.

Wambui, an agent with Directline Insurance Company Limited, was arrested on January 23, 2019 in Kamulu on Kagundo Road in Nairobi County.

The initial investigations indicate the covers for the motor vehicles were procured by other persons other than Gichunge, who was in possession of the motor vehicles.

The prosecution said it was necessary to confirm from Wambui the details of the persons who procured covers for the motor vehicles and their possible connections to the terrorist attack.

“During investigations, Wambui's mobile phone was recovered and is currently undergoing forensic examination and the reports have yet to be obtained and analysed,” said investigation officer Shedrack Mumba.

She is being investigated for several terrorism-related offences which include conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, provision of property and services for commission of terrorism acts and membership of a terrorist group.

The prosecution said it believed the attackers had other associates who had yet to be arrested and there was a need to examine whether they were in contact with Wambui.

In her defence, Wambui said she was a single mother and detaining her for 20 days would interfere with the well-being of her child.

In the same court, Sophia Njoki, the Diamond Trust Bank Eastleigh branch manager, denied allegations that terror suspects linked to the dusitD2 hotel attack operated accounts with the bank.

In an affidavit filed in response to the prosecutions allegations, Ms Njoki said she did not know terror suspects Hassan Abdi, Ismael Sadiq, Ali Khamisi, Abdinoor Maalim and Abdullahi Muhumed, who have been linked to the dusitD2 hotel attack.