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US Praises Kenya's Role In the War Against Terror

The Nation (Nairobi)
NEWS
May 2, 2003
Posted to the web May 4, 2003

By Kevin J. Kelley
New York
Kenya remains a key partner in the global campaign against terrorism, but its
effectiveness is limited by inadequate training and resources, the United
States has said.
In its annual report on worldwide trends in terrorism, the US State Department
highlights last November's attacks in Mombasa as evidence that Africa continues
to be targeted by groups such as al-Qaeda.
The nearly simultaneous bombing of the Paradise Hotel and the attempted downing
of a commercial airliner marked the second time in the past five years that
Kenya has been hit by international terrorists, the report, released on
Wednesday, said.
Kenya and the United States began to collaborate closely on counterterrorism
initiatives following the destruction of the US embassy in Nairobi in 1998.
"There has been ongoing law-enforcement cooperation and sharing of information
between the United States and Kenya concerning suspected terrorists," the State
Department says in its new report.
The State Department does not elaborate on its observation concerning Kenya's
limited capacity to fight terrorism.
But the same day the report was being issued in Washington, the US embassy in
Nairobi was announcing a donation of tools, uniforms and evidence-gathering
equipment to CID's bomb disposal and explosives unit.
This donation, worth about Sh385,000, comes in addition to nearly Sh300 million
the United States has spent to help Kenya protect itself from terrorism,
according to the embassy.
The November attacks on the Coast were among 199 recorded terror incidents
worldwide in 2002. That total represents a significant decline in terrorist
activity from the previous year when 355 attacks took place.

   

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