Turkish billionaire in the soup for slapping Wajir governor

On the eve of January 12, 2026 Turkish billionaire Elsek Osman was driving to his palatial home in Kikambala, Kilifi County, when his V8 was hit by a vehicle that sped off.

Enraged, he chased the vehicle all the way to Mtwapa where he caught up with it and blocked it. He confronted the people in the said vehicle allegedly belonging to a top Kilifi County government official.

“I gave chase and caused the motor vehicle that hit mine to stop. I needed an explanation why they drove recklessly and dangerously, hit my car and fled the scene,” said Elsek.

In the process two people alighted and an altercation ensued. The billionaire said that he was assaulted and injured in the process.

But sources say, during the heated confrontation, Elsek unleashed two hot slaps on the cheeks of a man who later turned out to be Wajir governor Ahmed Abdullahi.

On his account, Elsek said that he learnt that one of the persons who were in the hit and run car was the current governor.

Elsek said that the vehicle that hit his were part of the governor’s convoy. He said he left the matter and proceeded with the journey and later decided to report the traffic accident.

“Instead, I was arrested on the same night of January 12 and 13, 2026 and booked at Nyali police before I made the report,” said Elsek.

According to Elsek’s lawyer Cliff Ombeta, the vehicle that hit the V8 was carrying Abdullahi, a Coast based governor and a Member of Parliament from Nyanza.

Elsek was later arrested by senior officers from Nyali Police and booked in with assault charges.

However, when he was presented in court, the State applied to detain him for 15 days to investigate his involvement in funding a terrorist group.

Appearing before Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo, Elske was detained for 21 days pending investigations into the terrorism funding.

On February 4, Elsek was charged with being a member of the Harakat Al-Shabaab Mujahedeen terror group. He denied the charges and was released on a Sh1 million bond with a Kenyan surety.

According to Elsek’s affidavit, he was driving home from Vipingo with his friend and countryman Gormen Sandikci with whom they were detained and charged.

The police said that the Elsek failed to produce any identification document while Sandikci held a Kenyan refugee alien certificate. Police said, at the time of arrest, Elsek was in possession of a Glock pistol with 15 rounds.

The police further said that prior to the arrest, the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) had received credible intelligence that the Elsek and Sandikci were involved in terrorism financing within the county.

The State then applied for 15 days to investigate their financial and banking details, call data records, identity and refugee status.

However, Elsek said that from the OB extract, the case was purely a traffic accident. He said he was a victim whose car suffered material damage and that the DCI-ATPU claims that he is a terrorist financier contradict what is stated in the OB extract.

“The said governor of Wajir County has threatened me with deportation from Kenya,” said Elsek.

He claims the terror allegation is an afterthought, politically instigated, wild and maliciously manufactured and aimed at coming up with unlawful and unconstitutional detention and trumped-up charges against him.

He said Sandikci was arrested for merely being a lawful and authorised passenger in his vehicle.

“I am a complete stranger to the allegations that I finance terrorism in Kenya,” said Elsek.

He said the he suffers cardiac condition and diabetes and requires constant access to prescribed medication and medical monitoring.

On his part, Sandikci was charged with consorting with Elsek, who was in possession of a firearm. Sandikci denied all the charges and was released on a Sh500,000 bond with an alternative cash bail of Sh200,000.

On February 2, Elsek’s lawyers John Khaminwa, Ombeta, and Daniel Wamosa said the terrorism charges were defective and applied for their dismissal.

Ombeta said they cannot allow their clients to plead on charges that are defective and incomprehensible.

“We cannot allow our clients to plead to charges that even we as lawyers cannot comprehend,” said Ombeta.

Khaminwa said that the charge sheet was defective for failure to disclose the date and time when the alleged crime was committed.

He said that no cautionary statement was taken from the accused to give their side of the story.

He said the rules of natural justice demand the respondents tell their side of the story.