107 killed, 124 injured in violent extremism attacks in Kenya in 2024 – Report
The majority of the attacks occurred in Mandera, Garissa, Lamu, and Wajir counties, with Mandera recording the highest number of incidents and fatalities.
A total of 107 people were killed and 124 others injured in violent extremism-related attacks across Kenya in 2024, new data from the Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies (CHRIPS) has revealed.
According to the Centre’s Terrorism Observatory, the year witnessed a 19 per cent increase in attacks compared to 2023, rising from 72 to 85 recorded incidents.
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The majority of the attacks occurred in Mandera, Garissa, Lamu, and Wajir counties, with Mandera recording the highest number of incidents and fatalities. Some attacks involved improvised explosive devices (IEDs) concealed in donkey carts, ambushes on security convoys, and strikes on critical infrastructure such as hospitals, communication towers, and police posts.
Garissa County recorded the second-highest number of attacks (33) and fatalities (32), followed by Lamu, with 20 deaths from eight attacks. Wajir County experienced three attacks but reported no fatalities.
“In Lamu and Garissa, civilians — particularly non-local workers — were targeted, often at their places of work, reflecting a disturbing trend in victim selection,” the report states.
November 2024 was noted as the deadliest month, with 13 incidents reported. Mandera recorded five coordinated attacks in Lafey in a single day, during which three people were kidnapped.
Between January and March, 14 terror attacks were recorded, resulting in 15 deaths and 43 injuries. February was the only month with no reported incidents. March had the highest number of injuries in a single month, with 33 individuals injured. This included 20 people wounded in an IED blast at a food kiosk in Mandera on March 25, where two police officers and two civilians, including the kiosk owner, were killed.
From April to June, 17 attacks resulted in 27 fatalities and 10 injuries. On April 29, 13 people were killed and five were injured in an explosion in Elwak, Mandera.
On April 13, four armed suspected Al-Shabaab militants in military attire stormed the Elwak Referral Hospital, assaulted guards, and demanded to know the whereabouts of doctors before fleeing without the information.
Torture, murder
On June 7, militants shot four non-local workers at a health centre in Bogyar village, Garissa, as they carried out renovations. The victims were subjected to torture before being killed, while four others escaped unharmed.
Between July and September, 26 attacks occurred, resulting in 40 fatalities and over 50 injuries. During this period, security agencies foiled at least eight attacks in Garissa and Mandera.
The report highlights an increase in intelligence-led counter-terrorism operations, with joint teams from the Elite SOG, Border Patrol Unit, National Police Reservists, and local officers targeting Al-Shabaab hideouts.
On August 5, multi-agency teams conducted raids in Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa. In operations along the Mandera-Wajir border, they uncovered hidden supplies including ammunition, medical kits, and jerrycans of water.
Terrorists killed
On August 14, a camp in Digdiga, Fafi Sub-County (Garissa) was raided following reports of harassment by militants. Two suspected terrorists were killed and several others injured.
A concerning trend was noted in Mandera County, where militants targeted government vehicles and personnel. On August 10, militants killed the driver of a Deputy County Commissioner’s vehicle and fled with it. A six-year-old child who was in the vehicle was kidnapped but was later found in Somalia and returned safely.
Between October and December, 28 attacks resulted in 25 deaths and 21 injuries. On October 16, militants attacked a police vehicle, killing a DCI officer and kidnapping a passenger. The same month saw multiple assaults on police stations and military convoys in Lafey.
In Lamu County, attacks mainly occurred in Ziwa la Kibokoni and Milhoi areas. In Wajir, both civilians and security officers were targeted.
The year also witnessed a surge in terror-related arrests, with 161 individuals apprehended — nearly triple the number from the previous year. Of those arrested, 113 were Kenyan, 37 Ugandan, one Tanzanian, and 10 of unknown nationality.
According to CHRIPS, the attacks claimed the lives of 29 civilians and 28 security personnel, while 36 suspected Al-Shabaab militants were neutralised. The report also notes 14 deaths whose identities were unspecified.
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