A Mombasa court gave the State more time to wrap up its investigation into the alleged offenses of two suspected terrorist recruiters. As a result, they will remain in detention for an extra 21 days.

By promoting the ideas of the late radical Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo, Yusuf Mrafi (27) and Ali Mwalimu Mwinyi (21) are alleged to have tried to enlist young people in Likoni into Al-Shabaab and ISIS terror groups.

"Detectives believe that Mrafi, 27, and Mwinyi, 21, may be part of a terror cell brewing in Likoni sub-county, Mombasa County recruiting youths to join ISIS and Al Shabaab terrorists in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia," the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said in a statement.


It was also revealed to Shanzu Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo that one of Mrafi and Mwinyi's known associates became a member of Al-Shabaab after they allegedly radicalized him.

"The investigation officer linked the two to a man called Nassor nicknamed 'Rogo' suspected to had gone to join Al Shabaab, who got radicalized after accessing videos of Aboud Rogo's preaching from the social media site TikTok," said the ODPP.

"The two respondents allegedly informed detectives that there are others who are still using Aboud Rogo's teachings to radicalize and are yet to be arrested."

The case will be heard on May 7, 2024.