This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
On July 3, 2019, a Nairobi court handed down a life sentence to a Tanzanian national and 41 years in prison to two Kenyans for their involvement in the 2015 Garissa University terrorist attack.
The sentencing came after a probation report was reviewed by Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi, who took into account the severity of the crime and the intentions of the accused.
Mr. Rashid Charles Mberesero, the Tanzanian national, had expressed his intention to join Al-Shabaab upon his release, according to the report. A bag belonging to him contained a letter in which he described himself as a commander willing to fight for Jihad.
His co-accused, Mohamed Mr. Ali Abdikar and Hassan Aden Hassan, were sentenced to 15 years each for conspiracy to commit a terrorism act and 25 years for committing a terrorism act. They will serve these sentences concurrently.
After completing these sentences, they will serve an additional 20 years for being a member of a terrorist group. The three men have already spent four years in remand.
Chief Magistrate Andayi described the attack as a premeditated and planned act that resulted in the loss of 148 innocent lives. He stated that the victims were 'gathered together and herded to their slaughterhouse'.
