Hussein Nderitu (L) and Sylvester Opiyo (R)
Police Spokesman Erick Kiraithe had circulated details of Sylvester Owino Opiyo also known as Musa Osodo born in 1985 in Siaya District and Hussein Nderitu Abbas alias Mohamed from Nyeri District born in 1978. He said they were wanted by the police over alleged links to Al Shabaab.
Their lawyer Chacha Mwita said they opted to surrender to avoid any confrontation with law enforcement agents.
“My two clients have surrendered to the police and they are now waiting to hear what the police have against them. Remember they already have a case pending in court over terrorism-related matters. So now we do not know whether they are wanted for the same or there are fresh charges,” the lawyer said when reached on telephone.
Kiraithe had indicated that the suspects had pending cases in court but he did not give any further details.
The suspects’ lawyer said: “We thought it prudent to have them surrender as soon as possible, because they were not in hiding at all.”
He indicated that they are likely to be taken to court on Tuesday.
Police Spokesman Kiraithe too confirmed the suspects were in police custody ‘The suspects have surrendered themselves and they are now being interrogated.”
He had earlier described them as “dangerous men whom we have every reason to believe that they are out on a dangerous terrorist mission. If we don’t get them we are likely to have trouble. We have intelligence on that.”
He did not indicate the charges the suspects are likely to face when they are taken to court on Tuesday next week.
The suspects were being interrogated at the Anti Terrorism Police Unit headquarters, Nairobi.
The photos were released during the weekly security briefing, where Kiraithe said police have heightened vigilance in the wake of renewed threats by the Somalia-based terror gang during the festive season.
He called on Kenyans to be on high alert and partner with the security enforcers by reporting any suspicious people to the police.
“I know that we have not been to war but we are there now and we must change with the times. The times demand that we change certain behaviours and take interest of our surroundings,” he added.
At the same time, he appealed to those in charge with laboratory materials to strictly vet those accessing such places by demanding proper identification.
During the briefing, the Information and Communication Ministry also issued a general alert to the public urging them to be on the lookout for suspicious ‘characters wearing baggy clothes, are mumbling to themselves and appear nervous and sweaty.’
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