Why the world needs to hear Kenya’s cry on terror war

In April last year, Angel Gurría, the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Developmen (OECD), addressed an international conference on the fight against terror financing in Paris. Addressing representatives from over 80 countries – including Kenya – his message was clear: “Terrorism knows no borders. It requires a global response”

This message is particularly relevant in the Kenyan context. While it currently appears that the protagonists of the dusitD2 terror attack were ‘home grown’, clearly the overall context within which the attack took place was global: The ideology and incitement behind it crossed borders, as did the terror organisation the attackers pledged allegiance to, the funding and the tactics used.

Our own response was also an international one. Our counter-terror forces train with their compatriots from around the world and share ideas, equipment and intelligence to enhance cooperation and effectiveness.

This internationalisation of our counter terror capabilities is not accidental. From as soon as he took office, President Uhuru Kenyatta has made it a central focus of his government to engage the world in our response to terror.

As he explained in a recent interview with France 24, just as the world united to defeat enemies in the past, so it now needs to get together to fight the scourge of global jihadism. And over the course of his six years in office, Uhuru has set out to strengthen our relationships with key allies in the battle against terror, so as to ensure that our forces are as well-equipped and prepared as possible for the battle ahead.

Improve intelligence

US aid to Kenya, which has grown to around $1 billion per year, has been focused largely on enhancing our counter terror capacity, enabling our armed forces to carry out more successful counter-extremist operations.

In July 2015 alone, the US government provided the Kenya Defence Force with nearly $100 million to combat Al-Shabab – which was used to purchase equipment, training, and improve intelligence and logistics capabilities – while in December 2016, the United States provided six Huey II helicopters for use in counter-terrorism activity by the Kenyan Air Force.

Relations with the UK have also been used to strengthen our capacity. Since 2015, the British army has trained 1,000 military and police officers in counter-terror tactics, and during her recent visit to Kenya, Prime Minister Theresa May signed an agreement to further expand cooperation, including the development of a regional training facility on IED (bomb) disposal, which will be fully operational by 2020.

First Lady

The key to this cooperation is relationships and stature. Uhuru has shown himself time and again to be a global statesman, a man taken seriously and respected around the world.

In August 2018, he was invited to the White House for bilateral talks with President Trump; only the second African leader to be given this honour.

Later in 2018, First Lady Melania Trump visited Kenya as part of a four nation Africa tour, another sign of the close relations between our two nations.

A few weeks after his White House meeting, Theresa May visited Kenya as part of a three nation tour of Africa, the first visit of a British Prime Minister to Kenya since Margaret Thatcher, more than three decades before.

Then later in 2018, President Kenyatta was one of just a few global leaders invited to speak at the G7 summit in Canada, on the subject of economic growth, climate change and security. Uhuru was personally invited to the summit by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after the two men had got on well at the earlier Commonwealth Summit in London.

In all of these meetings and summits, security and counter-terror is a key issue of discussion.

Uhuru has been a highly effective advocate on the world stage for Kenya and our centrality to the global fight against terror, and as a result, world leaders are interested to hear his views on the subject, and to offer assistance.

In the aftermath of the dusitD2 attack, these relationships and global stature are needed more than ever.

While great progress has been made in recent years, clearly more is required and fast. We need to learn the lessons of the attack, and enhance our capabilities accordingly.

As Angel Gurría said, this can only be done with the world’s help. We are lucky to have a leader such as Uhuru at this crucial time. For as recent years show, when Uhuru talks on terrorism, the world listens.

Mr Maore is the Igembe North Member of Parliament.