Countering the transnationalmobility of the Al-Shabaab

Executive Summary

The effectiveness of counter-terrorism interventions in Kenya in pre-empting transnational mobility of the Al-Shabaab is yet to be fully realized. This paper suggests the closing of terrorist mobility gap as a matter of priority. Mobility is applied in this discussion to encompass movement of operatives and the related logistics that aid travel to execute terror attacks. It has facilitated the Al-Shabaab terror regime both transnationally and intra-nationally in launching attacks to support its strategic objectives. It is aided by legal and illegal travel infrastructure which include public and private modes of transport; weak border
controls, corruption and criminal activities. This paper recommends, at the domestic level, strengthening of border security and countering the illicit travel infrastructure. Beyond the frontiers, it proposes international and regional cooperation, knowledge generation on terrorist mobility to counter the terrorists’ funding innovations.