A Turkish businessman, Osman Erdinc Elsek, has been charged in a Mombasa court with multiple terrorism-related offenses, including alleged membership in the Al-Shabaab terrorist group and illegal possession of a firearm. His co-accused, Gokmen Sandikci, faces charges related to consorting with him and assault.

• Osman Erdinc Elsek faces charges of being a member of a terrorist group contrary to Section 24 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012, and collecting information for use in a terrorist act.
• He was allegedly found with a Samsung Flip 7 mobile phone containing video recordings for terrorist acts, with this offense reportedly occurring on January 14, 2026, at the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) in Mombasa.
• Elsek also faces charges for possessing a Glock pistol on January 12, 2026, in Majengo Kanamai, Kilifi South, Kilifi County, under circumstances suggesting it could disrupt public order.
• Magistrate David Odhiambo released Elsek on a Ksh 1 million bond with a surety of the same amount, while Sandikci received a Ksh 500,000 surety bond with a Ksh 200,000 cash bail alternative. The pretrial hearing is set for February 19.

Two suspects were arrested yesterday in Kanyonyoo, Kitui County, after police discovered 30 rounds of live ammunition in a backpack on a passenger bus traveling along the Garissa-Thika Highway.

• 30 rounds of live ammunition were recovered during a routine multi-agency roadblock search.
• The National Police Service (NPS) conducted the arrests and secured the ammunition as evidence.
• The seized cartridges showed clear differences in their brass casings, suggesting they were full power rifle ammunition.

Two suspects have been arrested in Kitui County after police recovered 30 rounds of live ammunition from a public service vehicle. The discovery was made during a routine security operation along the Garissa–Thika Highway.

• 30 rounds of live ammunition were found in an abandoned backpack.
• The National Police Service (NPS) conducted the operation in Kanyonyoo area, Lower Yatta Sub-County.
• The public service vehicle was also detained as part of ongoing investigations.