NIS Boss Declares Middle East Conflict Threat To Kenya
The National Intelligence Service has expressed alarm about the escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict into Yemen, as well as Houthi rebel attacks.
The CIA claims that this has heightened security concerns against Kenya.
NIS director general Noordin Haji said on Thursday that the conflicts have increased security threats for maritime routes through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, which is one of Kenya’s main commerce corridors.
“These disruptions, coupled with political instability in neighbouring countries like Sudan, a key market for Kenyan tea exports, has directly impacted export earnings and market access for critical commodities such as coffee, tea and horticultural products, straining the economy and trade resilience,” Haji said during the inaugural public lecture at the National Intelligence and Research University.
He claimed that Middle Eastern instability, caused by the Israel-Palestine conflict, changes in Syrian administration, and overall fragility in state structures, has created a vacuum in which terrorist elements might grow.
According to Haji, terror groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda continue to spread their reach, utilizing disarray to strengthen their activities.
“As part of this expansion, ISIS and Al-Shabaab have been collaborating with the Houthis, gaining access to advanced weaponry and sophisticated training,” the NIS boss said.
“The spillover effects are now being felt in Africa, making the continent an emerging epicentre of terrorism.”
Closer to home, the spy chief stated that Ethiopia’s instability, particularly in the Amhara area, has opened up fresh opportunities for ISIS development, placing the threat dangerously near Kenya’s borders.
“The increasing frequency of Al-Shabaab attacks in Somalia poses a direct threat to Kenya’s security environment, as the group escalates its activities within our borders,” he said.
“This threat is further compounded by al Shabaab’s financial strength, with the group generating over $100 million (Sh12.9 billion) annually through illicit financial networks and unregulated cryptocurrency transactions.”
He added: “This reality demands urgent action within our financial and digital regulatory landscape, as these funds enable al Shabaab to recruit.”
According to Haji, the Russia-Ukraine war has increased the country’s economic problems by disrupting the delivery of key commodities such as cereals, fertilizer, and petroleum.
“This disruption was further exacerbated by instability in Israel and Palestine, affecting global trade flows and increasing commodity prices,” he said.
NIS Boss Declares Middle East Conflict Threat To Kenya
