ICC Note
Terrorism is the major threat to Kenyan national security. It is especially dangerous in the tense climate that the country is experiencing due to the upcoming repeat elections. According to NIS Deputy Assistant Director Alexander Muteshi, there are many different groups of young Kenyans who are returning from being radicalized in Somalia by groups like Al-Shabaab. After they have been trained, they are sent back to Kenya to attack churches, police, elderly and anyone who goes against the terrorist ideals. Mr. Muteshi also states that these are very intelligent and well trained groups who have well organized backers. This is what makes them so hard to fight against.
2017-09-20 Kenya (DailyNation) The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has singled out terrorism as the biggest threat to Kenya’s national security and development.
In a report presented during the induction of MPs Wednesday, NIS Deputy Assistant Director Alexander Muteshi said that the threat remains high in border counties of Mandera, Wajir, Garissa and Lamu.
Mr Muteshi told the MPs that the threats are propagated by terrorist organisations like the Al-Shabaab that has its cells in neighbouring Somalia and the Islamic State (IS) group that operates in Puntland, Libya, Syria and Iraq.
“What makes the threats dangerous is that they are targeting churches, malls, schools and other public places. But the success against this is the multi-agency approach we have adopted to deal with them,” Mr Muteshi said.
He pointed out that the threats have been pushed away from the cities to the border areas.
He also noted that the National Counter Terrorism Centre has helped in building resilience through educating the youth, the masses and religious groups.
According to Mr Muteshi, the country is already dealing with over 200 returnees from Somalia in South Coast, who are targeting Nyumba Kumi elders, locals and the police.
Some of these gangs are said to operate in groups christened as the Gaza boys, Wakali Wao and Wakali Kwanza, among others.
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