By Michelle Ndaga
Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to combating terrorism and violent extremism, with Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign & Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi underscoring the country’s determination to address the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab.
Mudavadi on Friday held high-level talks with Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (UNCTED), focusing on advancing Kenya’s security priorities and building national capacity to detect, disrupt, and deter terrorist activities.
In a statement, Mudavadi commended UNCTED for its role in supporting Member States in implementing UN Security Council counter-terrorism resolutions and strengthening global efforts to combat violent extremism.
He stressed the urgency of preventing cross-border attacks involving improvised explosive devices, targeted assassinations, and ambushes that endanger civilians and security personnel.
The meeting also explored emerging threats, including the potential misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by terrorist networks for propaganda, recruitment, cybercrime, and drone-based attacks.
Mudavadi called for deeper collaboration to counter the growing exploitation of information and communication technologies for radicalization, financing, and operational coordination.
He further emphasized Kenya’s commitment to enhancing its ability to disrupt extremists’ use of encrypted messaging apps, social media platforms, and mobile money services, saying technology must serve as a shield for citizens rather than a weapon for terrorists.
