This archive report was first published on 12 January 2020.
Kenya's struggle with terrorism has been ongoing for decades, with the country experiencing a series of devastating attacks since 1997. The latest incident occurred on January 15, last year, when a luxury hotel and office complex in Nairobi was invaded, leaving 21 people dead and many more injured.
However, this attack was not an isolated incident. In fact, it was the third attack in Lamu and Garissa's Daadab, with the Al Shabaab militant group claiming responsibility for many of them. The group has stated that it is retaliating against Kenya's military presence in Somalia under Operation Linda Nchi.
Despite the government's promises to improve response and prevent future attacks, the incidents have continued to occur. In 2011, Al Shabaab attacks began after Kenya Defence Forces incursion into Somalia. Since then, the group has carried out numerous attacks, including the September 21, 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, which killed at least 69 people and injured over 170.
Other major attacks include the April 2, 2015 attack on the Garissa University College, where 148 people were killed and 70 injured, and the 2014 attacks in Mpeketoni, Lamu, and Mandera County, which killed over 100 people. The latest attack occurred last week at a military base run jointly by the United States and Kenya in Manda Bay Airfield in Lamu, with the number of casualties still unknown.
