Faith Masita
In a major intelligence-led operation, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) together with the Special Operations Group (SOG) and other security agencies have successfully foiled a significant terrorist attack that was planned to be carried out in Nairobi during the holy month of Ramadan.
The breakthrough comes after months of discreet surveillance and covert monitoring of a suspected terror network operating within and around the Dadaab refugee complex, a long-standing flashpoint for extremist recruitment and logistics in northeastern Kenya.
According to security sources, the intelligence operation culminated in the seizure of a large cache of weapons and explosive devices destined for use in the planned attacks. Items recovered include five AK-47 assault rifles, twenty magazines loaded with ammunition, 600 rounds of bullets, hand grenades, additional explosives and logistics supplies.
Attack Plans and Terror Network
Officials revealed that the suspects were not only planning bombings and mass casualty attacks but were also exploring kidnapping of foreign nationals and vehicle hijackings as part of a coordinated campaign of terror targeting both local and expatriate communities in
“Nairobi remains safe because of the brave young men and women in our security agencies who spend long hours tracking down dangerous terrorists and criminals,” a statement from Counter Terrorism Policing Kenya published on social media noted.
Security officials say the operation involved sophisticated intelligence work, including intercepted communications, financial tracing, on-the-ground surveillance, and the identification of safe houses months before the suspects realised they were under observation.
The foiled plot underscores the continuing threat posed by Al-Shabaab, the Somalia-based extremist group that has repeatedly targeted Kenya over the past decade, particularly since Kenyan troops joined the African Union Mission in Somalia.
Kenya’s security apparatus has remained on high alert, especially along the Kenya-Somalia border, to prevent infiltration of militants following intensified counter-terror operations in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region.
Government and Security Response
High-level intelligence cooperation between agencies such as the NIS, the SOG, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) has been credited with dismantling terror cells before they can execute their plans. Analysts say the shift to pre-emptive, intelligence-driven strategies has been central to recent operational successes.
President William Ruto, Parliament, and senior security officials have reiterated their commitment to safeguarding national security, assuring both Kenyans and international partners of continued vigilance and readiness.
The breakthrough comes after months of discreet surveillance and covert monitoring of a suspected terror network operating within and around the Dadaab refugee complex, a long-standing flashpoint for extremist recruitment and logistics in northeastern Kenya.
According to security sources, the intelligence operation culminated in the seizure of a large cache of weapons and explosive devices destined for use in the planned attacks. Items recovered include five AK-47 assault rifles, twenty magazines loaded with ammunition, 600 rounds of bullets, hand grenades, additional explosives and logistics supplies.
Attack Plans and Terror Network
Officials revealed that the suspects were not only planning bombings and mass casualty attacks but were also exploring kidnapping of foreign nationals and vehicle hijackings as part of a coordinated campaign of terror targeting both local and expatriate communities in
“Nairobi remains safe because of the brave young men and women in our security agencies who spend long hours tracking down dangerous terrorists and criminals,” a statement from Counter Terrorism Policing Kenya published on social media noted.
Security officials say the operation involved sophisticated intelligence work, including intercepted communications, financial tracing, on-the-ground surveillance, and the identification of safe houses months before the suspects realised they were under observation.
The foiled plot underscores the continuing threat posed by Al-Shabaab, the Somalia-based extremist group that has repeatedly targeted Kenya over the past decade, particularly since Kenyan troops joined the African Union Mission in Somalia.
Kenya’s security apparatus has remained on high alert, especially along the Kenya-Somalia border, to prevent infiltration of militants following intensified counter-terror operations in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region.
Government and Security Response
High-level intelligence cooperation between agencies such as the NIS, the SOG, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) has been credited with dismantling terror cells before they can execute their plans. Analysts say the shift to pre-emptive, intelligence-driven strategies has been central to recent operational successes.
President William Ruto, Parliament, and senior security officials have reiterated their commitment to safeguarding national security, assuring both Kenyans and international partners of continued vigilance and readiness.
