U.S offers Ksh.1.2B reward for information on dusitD2 terror attack mastermind

The United States government is offering a reward of upto USD 10 million (approx. Ksh.1.2 billion) for information leading to the arrest of the suspected main terrorist responsible for the 2019 attack on the dusitD2 complex in Westlands.

This was announced by U.S Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman on Thursday, in a joint press address with Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin.

Ms. Whitman revealed that the U.S Department of State has since identified one of the main suspected terrorists in the attack as Mohamoud Abdi Aden, alias Mohamud Abdirahman.

Through its Rewards for Justice (RFJ) programme, the U.S has put up the bounty on Mohamoud as well as “any other individual who committed, attempted or conspired to commit, or aided or abetted in the commission” of the attack.

At least 21 people, including one U.S citizen, were killed in the January 15, 2019 attack by Al-Shabaab terrorists said to have been armed with explosives, automatic weapons and grenades.

“Al-Shabaab, an affiliate of the al-Qa'ida terrorist organization, released live updates throughout the attack and issued a press release in which it stated that the attack was in response to guidance from now deceased al-Qa'ida leader Ayman Zawahiri,” stated Ms. Whitman.

“Mohamoud Abdi Aden, aka Mohamud Abdirahman, an al-Shabaab leader, was part of the cell that planned the Dusit2 Hotel attack. In October 2022, the Department of State designated Aden as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended.”

The envoy further added: “Al-Shabaab is responsible for numerous terrorist attacks in Kenya, Somalia, and neighboring countries that have killed thousands of people, including U.S. citizens. The terrorist group continues to plot, plan, and conspire to commit terrorist acts against the United States, U.S. interests, and foreign partners.”

Ms. Whitman also stated that the U.S in March 2018 designated AL-Shabaab as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).