Mpeketoni attack suspects to stand trial for murder

The High Court in Mombasa has ruled that the two Mpeketoni terror attack suspects who had been charged with 60 counts of murder have a case to answer.

High Court Judge Martin Muya said there was sufficient evidence to charge Diana Salim Suleiman and Mahadi Suleiman Mahadi alias Jesus with the murder of 60 people during the June 2014 Mpeketoni terror attack in Lamu County.

The lead prosecution counsel Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Alexander Muteti assisted by a team of prosecutors closed the prosecution’s case after calling 32 witnesses.

The Mpeketoni and Kaisairi attacks started at 8:30PM on June 2014 as locals were busy watching a football World Cup match.

Local residents said the gunmen hijacked a van and used it to attack various locations across Mpeketoni that were known to have tourists who passed by before crossing to Lamu.

The first place that was attacked was the police station where five police vehicles were burnt.

Witnesses said gunmen, who had their faces covered, threw explosives at the local police station before they entered and stole weapons.