Terrorists and violent extremists intensified propaganda and leveraged technology to perpetrate their heinous acts in the year to August 2025, a presidential report on the State of National Security has shown.
The report, tabled in Parliament by President William Ruto, indicates that a total of 61 terror-related incidents were reported, including 15 active shootings, 20 improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and nine kidnappings affecting 119 victims.
The report shows that terror organisations, particularly Al-Shabaab and the Islamic State (ISIS), continue to evolve by enhancing their networks, adopting new modus operandi, intensifying propaganda and leveraging technology to carry out attacks.
Al-Shabaab fighters.
Photo credit: File | AFP
The Annual Report on the State of National Security covers the period from September 1, 2024, to August 2025.
During the period under review, a total of 84 security officers and 35 civilians were injured in Mandera, Wajir, Garissa and Lamu counties.
“Al-Shabaab continues to exploit the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis) and African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (Aussom) transition, reduced troop presence, clan dynamics and political instability in Somalia to intensify attacks, with intentions to expand areas under its control,” President Ruto said.
“During the period under review, Al-Shabaab’s activities were characterised by probing attacks on security agencies, critical infrastructure and security installations, emplacement of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along main supply routes, as well as targeted killings and abductions.”
In this file photo, Soldiers belonging to the Somali National Army, as well as the African Union Mission in Somalia, line up in a convoy on the road leading up to the Al-Shabab, stronghold of Barawe, in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia, 200 kilometres southwest of Mogadishu.
Photo credit: AFP
He said the terror group’s threat to Kenya was compounded by continued radicalisation and recruitment of vulnerable youth across the country.
The President said Kenya’s security teams frequently intercepted Al-Shabaab militants along the Kenya-Somalia border as they attempted to infiltrate the country.
“Al-Shabaab also sustained the collection of zakat and kidnapping for ransom, as well as illegal taxation and extortion, besides receiving donations from sympathisers to facilitate its terrorist operations,” he said.
“Al-Shabaab continued to exploit the porous Kenya-Somalia border to infiltrate and launch attacks in parts of Kenya’s North Eastern and Coast regions.”
The most affected areas included the Arabia-Fino–Lafey–Elwak corridor in Mandera County; the El Ram–Kotulo–Khorof Harar–Wajir axis in Wajir County; the Liboi–Kulan–Amuma–Hulugho–Galmagalla–Sangailu–Ijara corridor in Garissa County; and the Boni Forest enclave, especially along Kamuthe and Digdiga in Bura East, the Kamuthe–Korakora–Nanighi stretch and the Lapsset corridor in Lamu County.
“To address the terrorism threat, the government has continued to adopt tactical, operational and strategic interventions, including enhanced and timely intelligence collection and sharing among relevant security agencies, deployment of advanced surveillance systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor porous borders and areas surrounding critical infrastructure, policy reviews to enhance counterterrorism measures, adoption of the National Strategy for the Prevention and Countering of Violent Extremism (NSPCVE) 2025, and enhanced multi-agency security approaches to synchronise counterterrorism coordination and bolster operational efficiency,” the report notes.
However, the report flags several challenges, including socio-economic vulnerabilities such as unemployment and perceived economic marginalisation, which continue to predispose susceptible youth to radicalisation and recruitment; porous borders that expose the country to infiltration by terror elements; and the Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps, which have been exploited by terror groups.
Also identified were the presence of local facilitation networks, sympathisers and proxies aiding terrorist activities within the country, challenging terrain hampering security operations, particularly in parts of the North Eastern region and the Boni enclave, and the transition from Atmis to Aussom, which created security gaps exploited by Al-Shabaab.
On general crime, the report shows that a total of 97,366 cases were reported between September 2024 and August 2025, compared with 103,536 cases during the same period in 2023/24, representing a decrease of 6,170 cases, or 6 percent.
“A decrease in crime rates was recorded in most categories of offences except those involving traffic, police officers and other Penal Code offences,” the report states.
President William Ruto.
Photo credit: PCS
“Crime remains a significant concern in Kenya and is prevalent in both urban and rural areas. The types of crimes commonly reported range from violent crimes, such as armed robbery and assault, to non-violent crimes, including theft, fraud and cybercrime.”
President Ruto said there was a general decline in cases of break-ins, stock theft, vehicle theft and possession of dangerous drugs.
Offences involving police officers spiked in 2023/24 and remained elevated in 2024/25, while other Penal Code offences recorded a significant rise in 2023/24, continuing an upward trend into 2024/25.
