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Terror attacks in Kenya declined by 6.5 per cent in 2023, new report reveals

The scene at the Fish Point Kiosk in Mandera town, where a terror attack on March 25, 2024 left four people dead. (Photo: Adan Mohamed)

By Mary Wambui | Tuesday, June 4, 2024

The report identified Mandera, Lamu, Garissa and Wajir as counties mostly affected by terrorism.

Terror attacks declined by 6.5 per cent last year compared to the previous year, a report by a Nairobi-based Think Tank now shows.

According to the latest Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies (CHRIPS) Terrorism Observatory Report, attacks reported in 2023 were 72, a 6.5 per cent decline from 77 recorded in 2022.

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The report says security agencies also arrested 59 people for engaging in terrorism in the document titled "The Trends of Violent Extremist Attacks and Arrests in Kenya, January - December 2023."

The report identified Mandera, Lamu, Garissa and Wajir as counties mostly affected by terrorism.

It notes that 72 attacks were reported in five North Eastern and coastal regions of Kenya, with Mandera accounting for the most attacks at 25 that claimed 72 lives, followed by Garissa at 23 attacks that claimed 71 lives.

"These Counties are vulnerable to terrorism due to the fact that they border Somalia, where the Al-Shabaab terrorist group is domiciled," CounterTerorism policing Ke observed adding that the reduction of terror attacks in Kenya is not by accident but as a result of robust counter-terrorism measures implemented by the government to diminish the Al-Shabaab threat in the country.

Amongst efforts have been attempts to discourage radicalisation, conduct arrest and prosecution of suspects and terrorist sympathisers both of which have played a key role in helping reduce the attacks.

"On the soft approach front, both state and non-state actors continue to engage in programmes to sensitise youth not to fall prey to advances from Al-Shabaab for radicalisation and recruitment" counter-terrorism policing added.

Breakdown of attacks

According to the report, nine of the 72 attacks occurred in January and February claiming 16 lives and eight others respectively and leaving 27 more injured. March and April recorded a lull in attacks.

But in May, five attacks were recorded followed by an uptick in June which saw the highest number of attacks at 19 led to 58 fatalities and a similar number of injuries.

On June 13 five attacks occurred; one in Mandera and Lamu and three others in Garissa claiming 32 security officers' lives.

Three more attacks occurred on June 21 in Mandera causing injuries to five security officers whose vehicle ran over an Improvised Explosive Device.

Another attack targeting a civilian bus killed four and left six others injured.

July accounted for the second highest fatalities at 53 with more than 16 injured.

These included a police camp attack on Ogorwen village, Mandera County which led to a battle that claimed 20 terrorists and eight officers.

Another attack at Orgene village in Mandera saw 23 militants killed and 14 security officials injured.

CHRIPS data presents statistics collected, disaggregated, and analysed from January 1 to December 31, 2023.