Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has disclosed that Kenya has successfully thwarted 47 terror attacks between January 2022 and November 2024.
Speaking on Thursday, Mudavadi highlighted the country’s progress in counter-terrorism efforts, emphasizing the neutralization of several terrorists and securing 11 successful convictions during this period.
“These convictions are a result of robust partnerships and collaborations with local and international agencies,” Mudavadi stated.
He noted that training programs and equipment support from international partners have played a pivotal role in enhancing Kenya’s counter-terrorism capabilities.
Mudavadi further pointed to Kenya’s improved standing in the fight against terrorism, citing the Global Terrorism Index, which downgraded Kenya’s risk level from “very high” in 2023 to “medium” in 2024. “This achievement underscores the strides we have made in combating terrorism and violent extremism,” he said.
The thwarted attacks, Mudavadi explained, targeted citizens, critical national infrastructure, security installations, and foreign interests.
According to a January 2024 report by counter-terrorism agencies, police successfully disrupted 30 potential attacks through intelligence-led preemptive operations.
The report revealed that the planned attacks were orchestrated by al-Shabaab and Daesh terror cells, along with their regional affiliates.
Daesh activities in Kenya were linked to operations by groups such as the Islamic State in Somalia (IS-Somalia), the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Islamic State in Mozambique (IS-Mozambique).
These groups conducted local operations while engaging in regional logistical activities, including the transfer of funds, movement of recruits, and dissemination of propaganda via online platforms.
Mudavadi also acknowledged the significant toll of terrorism on Kenya in past years. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki previously reported that at least 500 lives were lost to terror attacks since the 1998 bombing of the American Embassy in Nairobi by al-Qaeda, which claimed 213 lives.
Other notable incidents include the September 21, 2013, Westgate Mall attack by al-Shabaab, which killed 67 people, and the April 2, 2015, Garissa University attack, which left 148, mostly students, dead.
Mudavadi emphasized the government’s continued commitment to safeguarding the nation from terror threats, leveraging intelligence, collaboration, and community vigilance.
