The Directorate of Criminal Investigations, through the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), has moved to court seeking 15 days to complete investigations into alleged terrorism-related activities involving a Turkish national arrested in Nairobi.
The suspect, Ahmet Mustafa Gungor, was arrested in the early hours of December 21, 2025 at the Standard Gauge Railway Nairobi Terminus shortly after arriving from Mombasa.
According to court documents, ATPU officers acted on what they described as reasonable suspicion that Gungor is involved in terrorism-related activities with both local and transnational dimensions.
Following his arrest at about 12.05 a.m., the suspect was escorted to ATPU headquarters in Nairobi, where he was booked under Occurrence Book number 02/21/12/2025.
Investigators told the court that the arrest was prompted by a Mutual Legal Assistance request from the Government of the Turkey, which is pursuing terrorism-related charges against Gungor before the Kahramanmaras Second High Court.
The request sought Kenya’s assistance in recording statements and collecting evidential material linked to the foreign proceedings.
Upon receiving the request, Kenyan authorities launched parallel investigations to establish the suspect’s activities, associations and possible involvement in terrorism-related offences within Kenya, citing the cross-border nature of the allegations and their potential implications for national security.
Police said that at the time of arrest, officers recovered several items from the suspect, including an iPhone 15 mobile phone fitted with a Safaricom SIM card, a Kenyan Urban Refugee Identity Card and proof of refugee registration.
ATPU informed the court that the electronic devices are believed to contain crucial evidence related to terrorist recruitment, financing, facilitation and propaganda, and therefore require specialised forensic examination.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is also seeking court orders to allow officers to search the suspect’s residence at Breeze Apartments in Kileleshwa, access electronic storage devices and security safes, and seize any documents or items relevant to the investigations.
In opposing the suspect’s release on bail, investigators described Gungor as a flight risk, noting that he is a foreign national with transnational connections and lacks permanent ties in Kenya.
They further argued that the seriousness of the offences under investigation, coupled with the severe penalties prescribed by law, increases the likelihood that the suspect may abscond if released.
Police also warned that releasing the suspect at this stage could compromise investigations through interference with witnesses, intimidation of potential witnesses, compromise of confidential informants and destruction or manipulation of digital evidence using encrypted communication platforms.
According to ATPU, investigations so far indicate that the suspect maintains operational links and communication channels with extremist networks, some of whose members are still at large.
The offences under investigation include financing of terrorism, recruitment into terrorist organisations, membership in a terrorist group and collection of information for terrorist purposes, contrary to the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012.
The State told the court that the alleged offences pose a serious and continuing threat to national security, public safety and public order, justifying the request for additional time to conclude investigations without interference.
