NAIROBI, Kenya – The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has raised the alarm over mounting security threats facing Kenya, citing the escalating Israel-Palestine conflict, Houthi rebel attacks in Yemen, and growing instability in neighboring countries.
NIS Director General Noordin Haji on Thursday warned that tensions in the Middle East and the broader Horn of Africa have created vulnerabilities that terrorist organizations are exploiting, posing direct risks to Kenya’s national security and economic stability.
“Disruptions in the Red Sea and Suez Canal, which serve as critical trade routes for Kenya, have already impacted the country’s export earnings,” Haji said during a public lecture at the National Intelligence and Research University. “This, coupled with political unrest in Sudan—a key market for Kenyan tea exports—has strained our economy and trade resilience.”
The NIS chief underscored that groups such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Al-Shabaab are capitalizing on regional instability to expand their influence.
Notably, he revealed that Al-Shabaab has been collaborating with Houthi rebels, granting the Somali-based militant group access to advanced weaponry and training.
This alliance, he said, has exacerbated security risks for Kenya and the wider East African region.
“Ethiopia’s instability, particularly in the Amhara region, has opened new pathways for ISIS to spread, inching closer to our borders,” Haji said. “At the same time, Al-Shabaab has intensified attacks in Somalia, with direct implications for Kenya’s security landscape.”
Haji further disclosed that Al-Shabaab generates over $100 million annually through illicit financial networks and unregulated cryptocurrency transactions, funding its recruitment and operations.
He called for urgent regulatory interventions to curb these financial flows, warning that terrorist groups are leveraging digital tools to sustain their activities.
Beyond security threats, Haji pointed to economic challenges exacerbated by global conflicts, particularly the Russia-Ukraine war, which has disrupted the supply of essential commodities such as grains, fertilizers, and fuel.
The ongoing instability in Israel and Palestine, he added, has further complicated global trade flows, contributing to rising commodity prices.
As Kenya navigates these mounting security and economic pressures, the NIS chief urged greater vigilance and coordinated counterterrorism efforts to mitigate risks.
“We must strengthen our security infrastructure, enhance intelligence-sharing mechanisms, and fortify financial oversight to safeguard Kenya from these emerging threats,” he emphasized.
