A Turkish businessman, Osman Erdinc Elsek, appeared in a Mombasa court on Tuesday facing multiple terrorism-related charges, including illegal possession of a firearm.
Elsek was arraigned before Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo and charged with being a member of the proscribed terrorist group Harakat Al Shabaab Mujahideen, contrary to Section 24 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012.
The charge sheet indicates that the offences occurred within Kenya, though exact dates and locations for some counts remain unspecified.
He faces additional charges of collecting information for use in a terrorist act, allegedly through a Samsung Flip 7 mobile phone found in his possession, and possession of an article connected with terrorism.
The mobile phone is reported to contain video recordings intended for terrorist purposes, allegedly obtained on January 14, 2026, at the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) in Mombasa.
Elsek is also accused of illegal possession of a firearm, specifically a Glock pistol, on January 12, 2026, in Majengo Kanamai, Kilifi South. His co-accused, Gokmen Sandikci, was charged with consorting with a person in possession of the firearm.
Both men are additionally charged with assaulting Boniface Katana, causing actual bodily harm.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Barbara Sombo urged the court to require the two foreigners, who have no fixed Kenyan residence, to provide sureties and deposit their passports until the case concludes.
Magistrate Odhiambo set Elsek’s bond at Sh1 million with a similar surety and one Kenyan contact, while Sandikci was granted a Sh500,000 bond or an alternative Sh200,000 cash bail.
The court scheduled the pretrial hearing for February 19, 2026, during which the prosecution will submit witness statements and documentary evidence.
The case has drawn attention for its implications on counter-terrorism measures in Kenya and the presence of foreign nationals in alleged extremist networks.