The US government has offered a staggering Sh1.2 billion bounty on anyone who will help capture a wanted terror suspect linked to the DusitD2 Hotel Complex attack.
US officials and their Kenyan counterparts said Mohamoud Abdi Aden is a leader of the terrorist group al-Shaabab.
They added he was part of the cell that planned the attack on the DusitD2 Hotel Complex in Nairobi in 2019 that left 22 people dead.
“Do you have information on Mohamoud Abdi Aden? Submit your tip now. You could receive a reward of up to $10,000,000 (Sh1.2 billion),” said a poster on the wanted man.
Those with information are requested to call Kenyan number +254-71-87-12-36 or Somalia’s +252-68-43-43-308.
US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman led a delegation to Directorate of Criminal Investigations chief Mohammed Amin's office in making the announcement and appeal.
There were speculations all players in the attack died but investigators have revealed Aden is still alive and was the mastermind.
He could be in Kenya or Somalia. The offered bounty is historical and is likely to draw much attention.
In the terrorist attack, a suicide bomber, Mahir Riziki, detonated himself outside a restaurant in the courtyard at 3.28pm. Other terrorists, armed with automatic rifles and grenades, then sought to kill as many innocent bystanders.
Four gunmen – Ali Salim Gichunge, Osman Ibrahim Gedi, Siyat Omar Abdi and an unknown individual – then proceeded with the attack using AK-pattern rifles and grenades, targeting people within the DusitD2 hotel and surrounding shops.
They were, however, stopped in their tracks through quick responses from various parties, including security agencies.
The terrorists’ images emerged in December 2020 when al-Shabaab released a seven-minute clip showing them preparing to attack the complex.
Officials say the DusitD2 attack was carried out on a significant date, coinciding with the third anniversary of the terrorists' overrunning of a Kenya Defence Forces base in El Adde, Gedo region.
Suspects Mire Abdulahi Ali, Mohamed Hussein Abdile and Mohamed Abdi Ali are facing at least five charges in connection with the attack.
The charges include conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, aiding and abetting a terror act, committing fraud in registration of documents and facilitation of a terror act.
The attackers had planned to stream the attack live on social media.
The hotel was reopened and closed months later due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Al-Shabaab is an affiliate of Al-Qaeda, which has repeatedly targeted Kenya over the presence of its troops in Somalia.
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