How Reshuffling Security Bosses Led to Increased Terror Attacks- Report
A recent report, The 2024 Global Terrorism Index, has shown a rise in terrorist incidents in Kenya during 2023, marking a trend not seen since 2019.
The increase in attacks, as stated in the report released by the Institute for Economics & Peace, is linked to various factors, one of which is the alterations made by President William Ruto to the leadership of the nation’s primary security bodies.
Al-Shabaab is a designated terrorist organization, known for its militant activities in Somalia and the East Africa region.
Significantly, alterations made in the security domain in 2023 involved the selection of Noordin Haji as the Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
In June 2023, significant alterations were implemented in the country’s regional security teams, including the reshuffling of several deputy county commissioners.
“Al-Shabaab was responsible for 70 deaths in Kenya in 2023, the most since 2019. Government-led counterterrorism operations in Somalia have led to a surge of Al-Shabaab militants crossing into Kenya, compounded by a lack of law enforcement personnel along the border.
“Changes to Kenya’s security leadership have exacerbated the situation, leading to a security gap that militants are exploiting to conduct attacks,” read the report in part.
Conversely, it was emphasized that the majority of terrorist attacks were occurring in regions adjacent to the border between Kenya and Somalia.
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It was observed that terrorists utilized the tactic of planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along different roads as part of their strategy during the attacks.
“In Kenya, terrorism deaths attributed to Al-Shabaab increased from 58 to 70 deaths in 2023. Most Al-Shabaab deaths in Kenya
in 2023 occurred in the Lamu district close to the Somali border which recorded 26 deaths in 2023, ten more than the year prior. This was followed by Garissa and Mandera counties, which collectively recorded 37 deaths.
“Both of the deadliest Al-Shabaab attacks in Kenya in 2023 involved roadside bombings, one targeting soldiers in Lamu and the other targeting police in Garissa. Ten people were killed in each attack. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for both attacks,” read the report in part.
Significantly, the government has been implementing diverse measures to prevent terrorist incidents within the nation.
Over the past year, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have apprehended individuals alleged to be plotting terrorist activities and individuals attempting to join a militia group in Somalia.
At the same time, the United States has imposed sanctions on two Kenyan entrepreneurs and a transportation company for their involvement in enabling the attacks.
How Reshuffling Security Bosses Led to Increased Terror Attacks- Report
