NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan anti-terrorism officers say they have dismantled what they describe as one of the most sophisticated terror facilitation networks uncovered in the country, following months of covert surveillance, financial tracking and coordinated operations.
Nine suspects — among them a prominent Nairobi lawyer known for representing accused extremists — are expected to be charged in court in the coming days.
Their arrests stem from an intelligence-led operation by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), which security officials say has exposed a sprawling recruitment and logistics pipeline connecting Kenya to ISIS cells abroad.
Recruits Intercepted, Network Exposed
The investigation began earlier this year when about ten youths were arrested as they allegedly prepared to leave Kenya.
Authorities say the recruits had been radicalised online and through local contacts before being routed through Kenya to Puntland in northern Somalia — a key transit hub — before attempting to cross into Yemen.
“It operates like a conveyor belt,” a senior ATPU officer said. “Kenya serves as a corridor. Once they reach Puntland, arrangements are made to cross the Gulf of Aden into Yemen, where they link up with established ISIS cells.”
The detained recruits reportedly provided crucial intelligence that helped investigators map the wider network.
Lawyer Accused of Moving From Courtroom to Terror Pipeline
Investigators allege that the Nairobi lawyer at the centre of the case initially came into contact with the extremist network through his legal work defending radicalised youths.
Over time, they say, he became more deeply embedded.
“He first appeared as defence counsel in several terrorism cases,” an investigator said. “But he is believed to have shifted from legal representation to active facilitation within the network.”
Authorities claim part of his legal fees were paid by ISIS-linked financiers, and that he later helped coordinate logistics, finances and communication for the broader operation.
He is expected to face charges including terror financing, membership in a terrorist organisation, and participating in a criminal network.
Trail of Money, Hotels, Cross-Border Movements and Crypto
The ATPU says the case broke open after months of financial analysis, uncovering money flows tied to extremist recruiters and handlers.
Investigators say they have compiled “overwhelming” material linking the suspects to the movement of recruits, financial transfers and logistical arrangements.
The evidence reportedly includes bank transactions, hotel booking records, cross-border travel documents and digital footprints — including cryptocurrency transfers designed to evade traditional banking scrutiny.
“This was a well-structured facilitation network,” a security official said. “We have financial experts, advocates, tour operators, hoteliers and boda boda operators working together to move money, individuals and information.”
Suspects Held as Investigations Deepen
The nine suspects are being held at ATPU facilities in Nairobi as investigators complete their files.
Prosecutors are expected to seek extended custodial orders to allow more time for forensic analysis of digital devices, financial logs and communication records.
Senior security officials described the operation as a significant tactical victory.
“Our message is clear: Kenya will not be a soft route for terror logistics,” one official said. “We will trace the money, wherever it goes — even into the digital shadows of cryptocurrency.”
Kenya’s Long Fight Against Extremism
The arrests come almost two decades into Kenya’s battle against transnational terrorism — from the 1998 US Embassy bombing to the Westgate Mall siege in 2013 and the 2019 DusitD2 attack.
These repeated threats have prompted tighter counter-terrorism laws, enhanced surveillance capacity and the rise of specialised units such as the ATPU.
Authorities say the latest breakthrough signals improved intelligence coordination across agencies as extremist groups increasingly adopt complex global recruitment and financing models.
