Kenya's war on terror has been effective, say US

The scene of the blast in Eastleigh, Nairobi on November 18, 2012. Kenya paid a price for its commitment to fighting terrorism. PHOTO/FILE

The scene of the blast in Eastleigh, Nairobi on November 18, 2012. Kenya has paid a price for its commitment to fighting terrorism. PHOTO/FILE NATION MEDIA GROUP

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Friday, May 31, 2013

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Kenya has been effectively fighting terrorism, the United States of America said in a new global report on terror.

"Despite Somali refugee issues, preparation for 2013 national elections, the threat of al-Shabaab, and ethnic, political, and economic tensions, the Kenyan government demonstrated persistent political will to secure its borders, apprehend terrorists, and cooperate in regional and international counter-terrorism efforts," says the US global report on terrorism, issued on Thursday.

The State Department cites Kenya's success in disrupting "several large-scale terrorist plots." Positive mention is also made of Kenyan military operations inside Somalia, which resulted in "capture of the key port city of Kismaayo, al-Shabaab's last major stronghold."

The report hails "the long-awaited passage of Kenya’s Prevention of Terrorism Act." Kenya also made "significant progress" in correcting deficiencies in its apparatus for preventing money-laundering on the part of terrorism financiers, the State Department says.

But Kenya "still has much work to do" in implementing the Prevention of Terrorism Act and in developing the capacity to "track, seize, and confiscate the assets of al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups," the report adds.

It goes on to describe Kenya as "an active law-enforcement partner" in the State Department's anti-terrorism assistance programme.

"Kenyan law enforcement agencies worked closely with the international community, including the US, to increase their counter-terrorism abilities, secure porous land borders and improve maritime security," the report says.

In addition, Kenya cooperated with the US to secure "especially dangerous pathogens." The government also enhanced its ability to prevent the sale, theft or accidental release of chemical, biological or radiological weapons-related material, the report observes.

Kenya paid a price for its commitment to fighting terrorism.

The report notes that at least 34 people have been killed and over 145 injured in more than three dozen terrorist incidents reported in Kenya last year.

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