Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has cautioned that artificial intelligence (AI) is adding a new dimension to terrorism threats facing Kenya and the wider region.
Speaking during a meeting with Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED), on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Dr.
Mudavadi said terrorist groups are increasingly exploring AI to advance their activities.
“AI tools could be used to generate propaganda, manipulate information through deepfakes, automate recruitment messaging, or support cyber-enabled crimes such as phishing and financial fraud,” he noted.
He stressed that Kenya continues to face persistent security threats, particularly from Al-Shabaab, which exploits instability in Somalia and porous borders to launch cross-border attacks.
These include improvised explosive devices (IEDs), targeted killings, and ambushes on civilians and security personnel.
Dr. Mudavadi highlighted that extremist groups are using online platforms to recruit and radicalize youth, a trend worsened by the return and movement of foreign terrorist fighters across the Horn of Africa.
At the national level, he said Kenya has adopted a multi-dimensional approach to counter terrorism.
This includes the Prevention of Terrorism Act, specialized units such as the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, and intelligence-led border surveillance operations.
He added that Kenya is implementing the National Strategy to Counter Violent Extremism (NSCVE), which empowers county forums to lead prevention, deradicalization, and rehabilitation initiatives.
