The US state Department in a report has cited that corruption at various levels in the country has drained efforts by the government to fight cross-border attacks by al-shabaab.
According to Daily Nation, the report released by the department highlighting new trends of terrorism across the world noted that persistent graft instances watered down Kenya’s efforts in fighting terrorism.
“Border security remained a challenge for Kenya due to vast, sparsely populated border regions and largely uncontrolled land borders,” cited the report in part.
It further noted: “This was exacerbated by security agency and other government resource gaps and corruption at multi-levels.”
Inconsistent, limited and minimal use of monitoring tools such as biometric screening aimed at preventing terrorists from gaining access to Kenya was cited as another loophole that has continued to undermine Kenya’s effort to fight terrorism.
Also, though Kenya is building its Financial Intelligence Unit, it has been hampered by inadequate staff, lack of an electronic system to analyze any suspicious transaction, and lack of a permanent appointee to head the unit.
The US report also notes that corruption from government officials in neighboring Tanzania and Uganda has made it possible for the insurgents to easily cross borders.
“Border security in Tanzania remained a challenge for a variety of reasons including corruption; the lack of dedicated border security unit in the Tanzania Police Force; and vast porous borders.”
But, the State Department acknowledges Kenya’s efforts in fighting terror.
It terms Kenya as “a strong counterterrorism partner of the United States throughout East Africa.”