PRESS RELEASE
107 People Killed in 2024 as Violent Extremist Attacks Surge
Nairobi, Kenya 24 April 2025: In 2024 alone, 107 people were killed and 124 others injured in a sharp escalation of violent extremist attacks across parts of Kenya. This marks a 19% increase in terror-related incidents compared to 2023, according to new data released by the Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies (CHRIPS).
These findings, captured in our latest report “Trends of Violent Extremist Attacks and Arrests in Kenya, 2024”, reveals a stark picture of the shifting threat landscape and the growing sophistication of militant groups particularly the Al-Shabaab along Kenya’s Northeastern corridor.
In total, we documented 85 terror-related incidents in 2024, a rise from 72 in 2023 with most attacks taking place in Mandera, Garissa, Lamu, and Wajir counties. The highest number of fatalities occurred in Mandera, where IEDs hidden in donkey carts, coordinated ambushes on security convoys, and attacks on hospitals and police installations became chillingly routine. In Garissa and Lamu; civilians particularly non-local workers were targeted, often in their places of employment reflecting a worrying trend in the choice of victims. November stood out as the deadliest month, with five coordinated attacks recorded in Lafey, Mandera, in a single day.
The report also reveals a surge in terrorism-related arrests. In total, 161 individuals were apprehended in connection with terror offences, nearly triple the number recorded in 2023.
CHRIPS’ data further shows that 29 civilians, 28 security officers, and 36 suspected Al-Shabaab militants lost their lives in these attacks. Nearly half of all incidents recorded targeted security personnel.
The full report is available on the CHRIPS website:
https://www.chrips.or.ke/publications/trends-of-violent-extremist-attacks-and-arrests-in-kenya-2024
About The Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies (http://www.chrips.or.ke/)
The Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies (CHRIPS) is a not-for profit leading international African research centre based in Kenya that conducts high quality policy relevant research on human rights, security, terrorism and counter-terrorism, violence, crime and policing
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