Al Shabaab has launched a series of attacks targeting security forces and their camps in Garissa, Mandera, and Lamu counties. On September 19, militants targeted Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) teams in Garissa and a KDF camp in Lamu in what security agencies called probing attacks. No casualties were reported. These incidents are the latest in a surge in al Shabaab attacks that northeastern Kenya and Lamu have seen since June.
According to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, at least 25 incidents involving al Shabaab were recorded in Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, and Lamu counties in June and July. The group carried out more attacks in Mandera in June and July than it did between January and May combined. The recent attacks follow one of the deadliest incidents in the region, in which five Kenyan security personnel were killed in an al-Shabaab ambush near Wantey Dam in Mandera county on July 28.
The impact of these attacks on communities is much wider than those killed or injured. Insecurity has disrupted livelihoods and local economies, affected education and healthcare sectors, and resulted in teachers and health workers leaving unsafe areas. Attacks have also damaged critical infrastructure, including communication networks, and disrupted public services and development projects such as Lapsset and roads.
Kenya's State of National Security report, submitted to Parliament in November last year, recorded 61 terror-related incidents across Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Lamu between September 2024 and August last year. Mandera alone recorded 38 incidents. The report recorded 20 IED attacks, nine kidnappings, and 15 active-shooter incidents across the four counties.
The government and security agencies need to reassess how they counter al Shabaab in northeastern Kenya and Lamu, with greater emphasis on preventing attacks rather than responding after they happen. One major challenge has been effectively involving communities in preventing attacks. Communities living along the border often have a better understanding of their local environment and can play a major role in promoting stability and protecting themselves.
Recently, the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), which was rebranded as the Counter-Terrorism Bureau, launched Kenya’s Counter-Terrorism Hotline and Online Reporting Portal to strengthen public participation in national security efforts. However, many citizens are reluctant to collaborate with security agencies because they fear they will not be adequately protected. The government should strengthen protection for those who provide security-related intelligence, including through agencies such as the Witness Protection Agency.
The county governments should also be given a greater role, as they have a stronger local presence and understanding of conditions on the ground. Citizens of northeastern Kenya and Lamu, who have lived with this threat for more than a decade, deserve better protection. They, like the rest of Kenyans, deserve to live in peace, travel safely, educate their children, run their businesses, and access essential services without constantly living under threat.
Key points
- The government and security agencies need to reassess their approach to counter al Shabaab in northeastern Kenya and Lamu.
- A more preventive approach to counter-terrorism is required to address the security challenge.
- Community involvement and protection for those providing security-related intelligence are crucial in preventing al Shabaab attacks.
