HENOK MERHATSIDK 1.pdf - Addis Ababa University

4.1.2. Terrorist threat in Kenya
Kenya is one of African countries that are vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Its porous boarders
and weak security structure among others contributed to Kenya’s exposition for terrorist
attacks at different point of time and place. Despite its limited Muslim population, Kenya is a
focal point of terrorist destination (Bruk, 2010:1). According to Ayittey, the first terrorist
accident in Kenya was in 1979 on the Norfolk hotel by Islamic Fundamentalist groups, that
opposed the act of Kenya government in allowing the Israelis Special Forces to use Kenyan
territory as a staging area to rescue hostages in Entebe, Uganda, and the second was the
terrorist attack on US embassy in Kenya on August 1998. The third was car bombing of an
Israel owned hotel and an aborted missile attack on an airliner which is owned by an Israeli
(Ayittey, 2002; Ploch, 2010: 6). The terrorists used surface to air missile that was bought in
Mogadishu arms market and smuggled to Kenya by Fazul who is now considered, top Al-
Qaeda leader in Somalia. Recently, the terrorist groups committed suicide bombing in
Uganda, Kampala and 10 Kenyans arrested and the two suicide bombers were believed to be
Kenyan’s and Somalis. This incident approved that Kenya is one of the recruitment site of
terrorist groups who are conducted their projects not only inside Kenya but also in the
territory of neighboring countries (Ploch, 2010: 1-10).
For Ploch, the “victimization narrative” of Al -Qaeda and Al -Shabaab is responsible for
radicalization of Muslim communities in Kenya, where “Muslim population is concentrated
largely in coastal and Northeastern provinces, and in certain Nairobi neighborhoods. Social
service delivery and infrastructure investments have been historically poor in these areas.”
Moreover, Kenyan Muslims misconception that their religion is mistreated by the west is a
drive for extremism. Additionally, the Al-Qaeda and Al-Shaabab’s accusation of the
Christian crusaders of west powers intervention in Muslim countries like Iraq and Somalia
helped them to buy the heart and minds of Muslims in the region (Ploch, 2010:16). The ever-
growing terrorist activity in Kenya is clearly observed by the US government. Hence, US
have established various co-operations, aid programs, training Kenyans to win their war on
terrorism. One of US effort in fighting terrorism in East Africa is drying terrorist financial
source in this endeavor US helped the establishment of Financial Intelligence Unites (FIUS)
in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Besides, US support on
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