Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

some members of the Muslim community who alleged government interference in religious
affairs.
KENYA
Overview: 2012 was a significant year for Kenyan counterterrorism efforts. Despite Somali
refugee issues, preparation for 2013 national elections, the threat of al-Shabaab, and ethnic,
political, and economic tensions, the Kenyan government demonstrated persistent political will
to secure its borders, apprehend terrorists, and cooperate in regional and international
counterterrorism efforts. Notably, a decade of debate culminated in the long-awaited passage of
Kenya’s Prevention of Terrorism Act. At home, Kenyan authorities successfully disrupted
several large-scale terrorist plots, though small-scale terrorist incidents continued, especially in
North Eastern Province, but also in Nairobi and Mombasa. Abroad, Kenyan military operations
against al-Shabaab, initially independent and later under the auspices of the AU Mission in
Somalia, resulted in the capture of the key port city of Kismayo, al-Shabaab’s last major
stronghold.
2012 Terrorist Incidents: More than three dozen presumed terrorist incidents were reported in
Kenya during 2012 – mostly grenade attacks – that the Kenyan government generally attributed
to al-Shabaab or its supporters, though few were formally claimed by any terrorist group and
several were specifically denied. The number and severity of attacks in the Dadaab refugee camp
decreased, but attacks on police and civilians in the nearby city of Garissa increased, including a
July 1 church attack with guns and grenades that left 17 dead and 40 injured. Deadly grenade and
improvised explosive device attacks in Nairobi targeted bars, restaurants, churches, a bus station,
and a mosque, hitting the predominantly Somali district of Eastleigh especially hard. A
November 18 minibus explosion in Eastleigh left 10 dead and 34 injured. Total reported
casualties from possible terrorists incidents were 34 dead and over 145 injured, though many of
the incidents remained unattributed.
Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security: Kenya’s Prevention of Terrorism Act,
passed by Parliament in September and signed into law by President Kibaki in October, marked a
key legislative milestone in the fight against terrorism. Combined with the 2009 Proceeds of
Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act and the 2010 Prevention of Organized Crime Act,
Kenyan prosecutors have a robust suite of tools for bringing individuals and organizations to
justice, tools which will also greatly facilitate international cooperation and mutual legal
assistance in terrorism cases. Even prior to the passage of the new law, Kenyan authorities began
prosecution of two ongoing high-profile terrorist cases against Iranian citizens and alleged
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Forces persons Ahmad Abolfathi and Sayed Mansouri
on explosives charges, and against British citizen Jermaine Grant on charges of plotting to kill
Western tourists on behalf of al-Qa’ida.
Kenya was an active law enforcement partner and participated in the Department of State’s
Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program. ATA programs focused on strengthening border
security, enhancing investigative capacity, promoting respect for human rights, and building
critical incident response capacity through training, mentoring, advising and equipping Kenyan
counterterrorism-focused law-enforcement agencies. Kenya also continued its partnership with
the United States on expanding Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation
System, PISCES, border controls to additional ports of entry.
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