MARSABIT, Kenya — A businessman was arrested in Marsabit Town on allegations of financing terrorism through a cryptocurrency network, triggering tensions between family members and police officers.
The Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) said investigators had gathered substantial evidence linking Abdisalam Hassan to suspected terror-related financial transactions conducted via digital currency platforms.
Officers did not disclose further details, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing probe.
Family members immediately dismissed the accusations as baseless and demanded Hassan’s unconditional release. A brief standoff erupted outside the Marsabit Police Station as relatives and supporters confronted officers over the arrest.
Police responded by quietly transferring the suspect to Nairobi, saying the move was necessary for both security and operational reasons.
Authorities added that Hassan will be arraigned on Tuesday alongside a Nairobi-based lawyer who was separately arrested in Mombasa in connection with similar terrorism-financing allegations.
Security officials say the arrests form part of a broader effort to curb the use of digital currencies in illicit financial flows, a trend they warn has complicated traditional tracking methods.
Despite rising scrutiny from regulators and law enforcement, Kenya’s cryptocurrency market continues to expand, prompting calls for tighter oversight to prevent abuse.
Police have urged the public to remain calm as investigations proceed. Further details are expected to emerge during Tuesday’s court appearance.
