Kenya recorded a decline in terror-related incidents in 2025, but the country may be trading security gains for growing concerns over civil liberties, a new report warns.
According to the Trends of Violent Extremist Attacks and Arrests in Kenya (January–December 2025), terror incidents dropped from 85 in 2024 to 72 in 2025, marking a 15 per cent decrease.
The study by the Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies (CHRIPS) also found that fatalities fell sharply, from 107 in 2024 to 50 in 2025, suggesting improved containment of large-scale attacks.
However, despite these gains, the report exposes a more complex and potentially troubling picture.
The report shows terrorist activity remains highly concentrated in four main counties in Northeastern and Coast regions.
“Four counties were affected: 32 attacks in Mandera, 23 in Garissa, 13 in Lamu and 4 in Wajir,” the report notes.
These regions continue to bear the brunt of attacks, underscoring the persistent vulnerability of border and remote areas, with security personnel remaining the primary targets.
The report says about half of all attacks in 2025 were directed at security forces through ambushes and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Of the 50 fatalities recorded, 23 were security officials — defence and police units.
At the same time, militants appear to be evolving their tactics. The number of abductions rose sharply, reaching the highest level in five years.
“The number of abductions increased from 3 in 2024 to 18 in 2025,” the report states, with most incidents occurring in Mandera and Garissa.
While the data points to progress in reducing overall attacks, the report raises serious concerns about how counterterrorism measures are being applied domestically.
A total of 126 individuals were arrested on terror-related charges in 2025. However, the report highlights that a significant portion of these arrests were not linked to violent extremism.
“The majority of these arrests were of individuals who were peacefully protesting,” it states. More than 52 Kenyans were “wrongfully charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act … charges were later dropped.”
The report warns that such actions risk undermining public trust in security institutions. “These arrests and charges raise concerns about the possible misuse of counterterrorism laws in the context of protests and civic dissent,” it says.
Kenya’s Prevention of Terrorism Act is designed to address threats from groups such as al-Shabaab and carries severe penalties. However, the law explicitly excludes peaceful protest from the definition of terrorism. The report cautions that charging demonstrators under such legislation “suggests a blurring of the line between legitimate security enforcement and the policing of dissent.”
Kiambu county, notably far from traditional terror hotspots, recorded the highest number of arrests, driven almost entirely by protest-related cases.
Even within the broader security context, the report highlights that success has been uneven. While attacks declined overall, certain months and regions experienced spikes, including July, which recorded the highest number of incidents in a single month at 12.
