Kenya Heightens Security Following Terror Threat Warning
On 28 January 2022, the Kenyan government intensified security measures across the country, particularly in Nairobi, following terror threat warnings from multiple foreign embassies, including France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The alerts indicated potential attacks targeting key installations, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, and other locations frequented by Western nationals.
The National Police, represented by spokesman Bruno Shioso, assured the public that critical infrastructure and urban areas are under heightened security. Citizens were urged to remain vigilant, report suspicious activity, and continue daily activities with caution. France described the threat as a real risk and called on both its nationals and locals to exercise extreme vigilance over the coming days.
Though the specific group behind the threat was not named, Kenya has previously faced repeated attacks from the Al-Qaeda-linked Somali terrorist group Al-Shabaab, particularly since Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia in 2011 under Operation Linda Nchi. Kenyan forces continue to operate alongside AMISOM coalition partners from Uganda, Burundi, and Djibouti to combat regional terrorism.
The heightened security underscores Kenya’s ongoing challenge in balancing public safety, tourism, and economic activity in the face of evolving terror threats.