2 Suspects in Dusit D2 Terror Attack Have a Case to Answer – Court Rules

The court on Tuesday, January 21, ruled on the fate of two suspects linked with the attack on the Dusit D2 hotel terrorist attack that occurred on January 15, 2019.

Through a ruling delivered virtually by Lady Justice Diana Kavedza, the judge acknowledged that the two suspects before the court had a case to answer following investigations into the terror incident that claimed the lives of 21 people, and injured several others.

“Having considered the evidence of 55 witnesses, including expert testimonies, and the material presented before me, I am satisfied that the prosecution has established a prima facie case against the two accused persons,” Justice Kavedza. 

“I hereby place the second accused, and the third accused on their defence,” the judge added.

The two suspects were arrested along with a third suspect, who was subsequently convicted following a plea bargain.

The judge scheduled the hearing for February 5 and 6, 2025, during which the defence will have the opportunity to present their case by producing witnesses at the Kahawa Law Court.

The ruling comes just days after Kenya marked six years since the attack, for which the deadly terrorist group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility.

Two other suspects linked to the Dusit tragedy died on the day of the attack. One was killed by police, while the other detonated himself in a suicide bombing incident.

Two years ago, the US, through former Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, announced a Ksh1.2 billion (USD 10 million) reward for information on the perpetrators of the deadly terrorist attack.

The attack on the hotel complex brought the nation to a standstill but was fortunately quelled on the same day after a joint effort by the military, police, and British Special Air Service (SAS) soldier Chris Craighead.

At the time of the attack, Craighead (not his real name) was posted in Nairobi to train Kenya’s security team on counter-terrorism strategies.

The former SAS soldier, who gained plaudits after heroically rescuing dozens of hostages during the terrorist attack, was recently selected to serve in US President Donald Trump’s elite security team.