Turkish nationals Gokmen Sandikci (left) and Osman Erdinc Elsek before the Mombasa Law Court on January 14, 2026.
Two Turkish nationals are under investigation for financing terrorism following a dramatic road rage incident involving Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party politicians who were travelling from a Central Management Committee meeting on Monday night.
The two, businessman Osman Erdinc Elsek and his associate Gokmen Sandikci, were on Wednesday presented before a Mombasa court, where the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions told the court that the duo were persons of interest in relation to the financing of terrorist activities.
An affidavit sworn by Hassan Sugal, an officer attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Anti-Terrorism Police Unit Coast Sub Unit, states that the suspects were arrested on January 13, 2026, in Mtwapa, Kilifi County, and later escorted to Nyali Police Station, where they were detained.
In the affidavit, Mr Sugal says he is investigating the matter as “terrorism financing contrary to Section 5 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012”.
Police told the court that Mr Sandikci failed to produce any identification documents at the time of arrest, while Mr Elsek was found to be in possession of a Kenyan refugee alien certificate.
Investigators further said that Mr Sandikci was armed with a Glock pistol (serial number RBV973) which was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition.
“The firearm and ammunition were subsequently seized and detained by DCI Nyali,” Mr Sugal stated.
In addition to terrorism financing, police said the two were also being investigated for misuse of a firearm contrary to the Firearms Act. Investigators told the court that they had received intelligence linking the suspects to terrorism financing activities within Kenya.
“Prior to the respondents’ arrest, the ATPU Coast Sub Unit received credible intelligence that the respondents were involved in financing terrorism within the country. The unit was already in pursuit of the suspects before their arrest.” Mr Sugal added.
The prosecution told the court that further investigations were required, including scrutiny of the suspects’ financial and banking records, call data records, identity documents and refugee status.
Turkish nationals Gokmen Sandikci (left) and Osman Erdinc Elsek before the Mombasa Law Court on January 14, 2026.
Police also said they are seeking to establish the respondents’ places of residence with a view to conducting searches to recover items, documents or materials relevant to the ongoing investigations.
Authorities further informed the court that the two suspects were flight risks, noting that their place of abode remains unknown. On that basis, investigators sought orders to remand the two men for 15 days at the ATPU Mombasa Police Station to allow the completion of investigations.
However, Mr Elsek denied the allegations, insisting that the case arose from a traffic accident and a politically charged confrontation, and not any terror-related activity. In a sworn response to the application by the ATPU, Mr Elsek also denied claims that he was a flight risk or that he had no known residence.
“I have a fixed and well known abode at Kilifi Pearl Beach Resort, a hotel I run and manage under Diamond Housing Limited, where I am a director,” he said, adding that both members of the public and the police are familiar with his residence.
In his account of the events that led to his arrest, Mr Elsek said that on January 12, 2026, around 9:30 pm, he was lawfully driving his vehicle along the Mombasa-Malindi Highway, heading from Vipingo towards Kikambala.
“Upon reaching Majengo, Kanamai, a vehicle approached from behind at a high speed, overtook recklessly and struck my car on the side before fleeing the scene without stopping,” he said.
He added that three other vehicles then overtook him at high speed, prompting him to give chase.
Threats to kill and an assault
“I eventually forced the vehicle that had hit my car to stop because I needed an explanation for the reckless driving, the collision and the decision to flee,” Mr Elsek said.
According to his affidavit, two people alighted from the vehicle and an altercation ensued.
“They attempted to beat me using guns. I was assaulted and injured in the process,” he said.
Mr Elsek said he later learnt that one of the occupants of the hit and run vehicle was the Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, and that the four vehicles involved were part of the governor’s convoy.
“The matter is not about terrorism but a traffic accident involving two governors and two Members of Parliament, whose names the prosecution does not want to disclose out of embarrassment,” Mr Elsek said through his advocate.
He added that the initial report he was aware of was about threats to kill and an assault arising from a traffic accident.
Mr Elsek said the parties later disengaged and the convoy proceeded with its journey.
“I decided to report the traffic accident, but before I could do so I was arrested on the night of January 12 or early January 13, 2026, and booked at Nyali Police Station,” he said.
Relying on the occurrence book extract, Mr Elsek argued that “this is purely a traffic accident in which I was the victim and my vehicle suffered material damage.”
“The terrorism financing allegations directly contradict the police’s own records,” he said.
He further alleged that the Wajir Governor threatened him with deportation.
“The terrorism accusations are an afterthought. They are politically instigated, wild, malicious and manufactured to facilitate unlawful and unconstitutional detention and trumped up charges against me and my colleague,” Mr Elsek explained.
“I am a complete stranger to these allegations. I am shocked and amazed by this vile and evil narrative,” he said, adding that he could not understand how the police could be influenced or actuated by ulterior motives to level such reckless accusations.
He also faulted investigators for failing to specify what form of terrorism he is alleged to be financing, which terrorist group or groups, or the nature of the alleged terror activities.
On the investigations, Mr Elsek argued that his detention is not required to examine his financial and banking records, call data records, identity or refugee status, noting that such information is held by independent institutions.
“All the police need is court orders directed at those institutions. Detaining me will not assist the investigations,” he said.
Addressing the firearm issue, Mr Elsek said, he is a duly licensed firearm holder, confirming that police had confiscated his firearm and all 15 rounds of ammunition.
“I have not misused the firearm at all,” he said, adding that verification of his licence lay with the Kenya Firearms Licensing Board.
Mr Elsek also said he was not opposed to lawful and constitutional searches of his property or premises.
He further raised health concerns.
“I suffer from a cardiac condition and diabetes and require consistent access to prescribed medication and medical monitoring. Continued detention will endanger my health.”
Describing the orders sought by police as draconian, Mr Elsek said they would unjustifiably strip him of his freedoms and liberties.
He added that he had been advised by his lawyers that an application seeking more time to detain a suspect pending investigations must be accompanied by a holding charge, which had not been presented before the court.
Despite the objections, Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo allowed police to hold the two foreign nationals for two weeks as investigations continue.
Earlier, senior police sources had confirmed that the two foreigners were being detained in relation to the altercations with the ODM politicians.
