A Lamu court has allowed police to detain three men for seven days as investigators probe their alleged role in helping 55 people from Lamu East Sub-County cross into Somalia to join the Al-Shabaab terror group.

Lamu Principal Magistrate Peter Wasike issued the custodial order today following an application by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Counter-Terrorism Bureau, Lamu detachment, through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

The suspects are Fauz Mohamed Faki, Jafar Abuhafsi Abu and Muhdhar Noor Muhdhar.

They will be held at Lamu Central Police Station while detectives continue investigations.

According to court documents, Faki was arrested on September 24 at Tchundwa village, while Abu and Muhdhar were arrested the following day at Tchundwa and Mbwajumwali, respectively. All three were first booked at Faza Police Station before being moved to Lamu.

In supporting affidavits, the investigating officer, Corporal Benjamin Munene, told the court the suspects are being investigated under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012, for offences including the collection or provision of funds or services for terrorist groups, facilitating or organising meetings in support of terrorist groups, and aiding or abetting a terrorist offence.

Police claim the suspects were involved in facilitating the movement of about 41 individuals from Lamu East who are believed to have crossed into Somalia to join Al-Shabaab.

Detectives told the court that mobile phones and SIM cards recovered during the arrests are suspected to have been used to communicate with the missing individuals and other suspects.

The prosecution had initially sought 30 days to complete its work. Investigators told the court they still need to obtain subscriber details, call data records and M-Pesa statements, forensically examine the recovered phones, identify the suspects’ associates, record witness statements, and subject the suspects to multi-agency interrogation.

The prosecution argued that the suspects were flight risks and could interfere with witnesses if released and that the complexity of the case made the orders necessary in the interest of public security.

The case was adjourned and will be heard on Friday, October 9, 2026.

By Amenya Ochieng