Kenya has renewed calls for stronger continental cooperation in the fight against terrorism as delegates gathered in Nairobi for the Fourth Nairobi Caucus on Enhancing Border Security to Deter and Disrupt Terrorist Activity.
The two-day summit, hosted by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) with support from the European Union (EU), brought together more than 200 delegates from African governments, multilateral agencies, and security services.
For the first time, West African nations joined the forum — a signal that terrorism is no longer bound by geography and demands a unified continental response.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo described terrorism as a “transnational menace” fuelled by weak border management, stressing that extremists exploit security gaps between countries.
“Kenya recognises that terrorism does not respect borders. It thrives where there are weak links in security management. This caucus offers us an opportunity to jointly strengthen our capacity to deter and disrupt terrorist movements before they undermine peace and stability,” said Dr Omollo.
He credited the EU for its longstanding support, noting that over 5,000 security officers across East Africa have been trained with EU assistance, alongside investments in surveillance and cross-border coordination.
The centre’s Director-General Kibiego Kigen warned that terrorist groups are constantly adapting — from drones to encrypted communication and new recruitment strategies — and said African states must keep pace.
“Terrorist networks are evolving in how they operate, recruit, and move across borders. This demands an equally agile response. By enhancing border security, investing in intelligence and strengthening inter-agency cooperation, we are proactively safeguarding our region,” he said.
EU Ambassador Henriette Geiger affirmed Europe’s commitment, describing its role as a long-term bet on regional capabilities, not short-term fixes.
The United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) also urged balance with official Sylvia Kabaki, saying technology must be paired with respect for human rights and warning that heavy-handed tactics often fuel radicalisation. She called for stronger community resilience and broader information-sharing.
In 2024, East Africa recorded more than 200 attempted or successful cross-border terrorist movements, with nearly 40 per cent using informal routes. In the Sahel, UN data showed over 400 attacks in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso between April and July, leaving almost 2,900 dead — mostly women and children.
Interpol reported that 37 suspected terrorists, including ISIS members, were arrested across East Africa in late 2024, 17 of them in Kenya.
On the cyber front, Interpol’s Africa Cyberthreat Assessment revealed cybercrime now accounts for more than 30 per cent of reported crimes in both Western and Eastern Africa, yet only 30 percent of countries have incident-reporting systems and just 19 percent keep cyberthreat intelligence databases.
Since its launch, the Nairobi Caucus has positioned itself as a proactive African-led platform for stopping terrorist infiltration. The 2025 edition pushed further, committing to legal harmonisation, intelligence-sharing and technology training to match extremist innovation.
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