April 2, 2025, marks a decade since the Garissa University terror attack, where al-Shabaab militants killed 148 people, most of them students. The assault shocked the nation and prompted significant changes in Kenya’s security approach.
In response, the government adopted a multi-agency strategy that has enhanced intelligence sharing and border management, leading to a reduction in terror attacks and cross-border crimes. Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja stated that this approach has helped thwart numerous planned attacks.
A parliamentary committee investigating the attack recommended decentralizing elite police units, increasing public awareness on safety, and involving communities in counter-terrorism efforts. Additionally, authorities have been running deradicalization programs to curb extremism.
Several suspects were convicted for their roles in the attack, while the mastermind, Mohamed Kuno, was killed in a 2016 security operation in Somalia. Analysts note that the attack targeted Kenya’s youth to destabilize the country’s socio-economic future, but ongoing vigilance and reforms continue to strengthen national security.
