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Anti-Terrorism Police Unit was yesterday allowed to detain a journalist, Laban Cliff Onserio for three days after he threatened to attack a man with a grenade at the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi on Sunday.

The former Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) Deputy Director of Communications was yesterday arraigned at the Kahawa Law Courts where detectives requested five days to detain him as they conclude investigations

Kahawa Magistrate Oscar Wanyaga however only allowed three days saying five days were many considering Onserio had already spent a day in custody having been arrested on Sunday.

The Magistrate directed the case to be mentioned on December 23.

The journalist was arrested by detectives from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) who recovered a stun grenade from him.

“The Respondent (Onserio) could not give satisfactory reasons why he was in possession of the flash-bang grenade nor produce a certificate allowing him to be in possession of the said explosive device,” claims ATPU in court documents.

Terror threat

In an affidavit by Vincent Mutai, who is the investigating officer in the case, Onserio was arrested by a multi-agency team who responded to the scene after receiving information that there was a terror threat at Holy Family Basilica.

Sources told People Daily that the journalist had left a music concert at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and proceeded to the church’s parking yard at around 4 am.

He however realized that he did not have his car keys and was dropped home by a friend. He picked up the car’s spare keys and went back to Holy Family Basilica.

At the parking lot, a scuffle ensued and he rushed to his car and picked up the grenade which he threatened to detonate.

ATPU claims that the Journalist had not made a declaration to the security guards that he was in possession of the Flashbang training system grenade.

A stun grenade is one of the weapons that create loud explosions and a very bright flash of light.

Though not very lethal, they have the potential of causing injuries caused by the blast or shrapnel and could even lead to death. It is mostly used to cause disorientation, a sense of panic, temporary blindness, and temporary loss of hearing.

It is their case that  Onserio is suspected to be in possession of more flash-bang training Model 7290T grenades which the investigating team requires more time to obtain a search warrant to recover.

ATPU claims that the preliminary investigation revealed the journalist illegally acquired the Flash bang grenade in 2021 from a British national currently working with Fly 540 Airline.

“There is a need to liaise with the British High Commission over alleged British citizen working with the Fly 540 airlines adversely mentioned by the respondent to have procured the said grenade,” claims the Investigating officer in court documents.

Pursued by police

According to the ATPU, Onserio is also believed to have other associates who are yet to be apprehended and their arrest is being vigorously pursued by security agencies both within and outside the country.

The journalist is being investigated for several terrorisms and other related offences which include possession of explosives among others.

“The activities of terrorists and their associates pose a great risk to the National Security and security of the entire peace-loving human race in the world and their actions must be investigated,” says  ATPU.

The Anti-Terrorism Police Unit claims that the investigations are complex and require more time and involve a number of agencies who will need time to interview and re-interview Onserio to carry out further investigation.

At the time of arrest, he was in possession of a pocket phone model GA-25, iPhone 14 and iPhone 5E.

ATPU says the investigators are yet to obtain the call data records (CDR) in his phone for the purposes of detailed analysis and follow-ups with persons whom he was in touch with.

It is their case that the issues they have raised make Onserio a flight risk and he might interfere with the investigations and should thus remain in custody pending a detailed investigation being carried out on his possible terrorist activities.