Man charged with conspiracy to blow up KICC

A man was yesterday charged with conspiracy to blow up Nairobi's Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in January.

Anti-terror police told a Milimani court Victor Odede Bwire was arrested after intelligence uncovered the plot to attack KICC.

According to prosecution, a forensic analysis of phones seized from the suspect showed he had sent information on KICC's security arrangement to contacts in Somalia.

Bwire was accused that on January 23, jointly with others and together with Mohamed Yare Abdalla, who was outside Kenya, conspired to commit a terrorist act at KICC.

He faced a separate charge of collecting information to aid a terror act.

The charge sheet read that on the said date at Nairobi's Umoja, he collected and transmitted, information on security arrangement of the KICC using his phone to the holder of a Facebook account Mohamed Yare Abdalla, information intended for use in the commission of a terror act.

He denied both counts before Principal Magistrate Lillian Arika.

The prosecution, led by Harrison Kiarie, opposed his release through a sworn affidavit, which claimed the suspect's conduct portrayed him as an influential person on social media and could interfere with witnesses.

“Your honour, the suspect has other associates outside and within the country, and the security officers are pursuing them. I submit that his release will jeopardise their arrest and investigations,” Kiarie said.

The suspect's lawyer, Mwita Chacha, told the court he was not opposed to the prosecution application, but that he had instructed his client not to incriminate himself.

Hold client

“Your honour, even as the prosecution seeks to hold my client for 14 days, let it be recorded that my client has been in their custody for 76 days, during which time he cooperated with the police,” Mr Chacha said.

The ruling on the bail opposition will be heard on April 9.

Meanwhile, the suspect will be remanded at the Anti-Terror Police Unit.