Use of AI / Brain‑Fingerprinting Surveillance in Counter‑Terrorism (2023)

On 31 January 2022, a matatu (public transport van) travelling through Hagarsu in Mandera County, near the Kenya–Somalia border, was struck by a brutal al‑Shabaab attack that resulted in ten deaths and thirteen injuries. According to survivor accounts, the bus first came under fire, then hit an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along the road. After the blast, militants allegedly opened fire on those who survived, before fleeing back toward Somalia. Wikipedia
The attack underscored the persistent security risks in Kenya’s northeastern region, where al‑Shabaab has exploited porous border areas to launch raids. According to reports, this stretch of highway had been targeted before: in 2015 and 2021, similar attacks left several people dead. Wikipedia Intelligence warnings from foreign partners—including French, American, and Dutch officials—had flagged a high risk of such cross-border raids, but Kenyan authorities claimed they had little prior knowledge of concrete plots. Wikipedia
Kenyan leaders reacted with shock and condemnation. The Mandera County Deputy Governor called for a full investigation into how the militants were able to execute such a coordinated ambush. Wikipedia Civilian populations near the border expressed increased fear as the tragedy exposed lingering vulnerabilities in national counterterrorism efforts. Security forces, for their part, faced renewed pressure to reinforce patrols, improve road surveillance, and better secure transport corridors.
Looking ahead, the Mandera attack has deepened calls for regional cooperation, especially with Somali authorities, to clamp down on al‑Shabaab’s cross-border movements. Analysts suggest that strengthening Kenya’s early-warning systems and investing in community-based intelligence could reduce such devastating incidents. The tragedy serves as both a stark warning and a rallying point for renewed efforts to protect civilians in these fragile frontier zones.