Twenty-two government officials from Kenya’s top security agencies will undergo specialised training on terror financing and money laundering in Nairobi, led by the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition.
Launched by Defence Cabinet secretary Soipan Tuya, the five-day course brings together participants from the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Intelligence Service, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the National Police Service, and other key institutions.
The training will focus on the evolution of terror financing, particularly in the context of advancing technology.
CS Tuya hailed the course as a major milestone for Nairobi, emphasising that hosting the training underscores Kenya’s growing reputation as a regional security leader.
"This is a show of confidence in our counterterrorism efforts and encourages us to do more," she said.
Tuya further emphasised the importance of international collaboration in fighting terrorism. "Terrorism cannot be defeated by one nation alone; it requires solidarity and strategic alliances," she said.
The strategic distribution of participants across various government agencies highlights Kenya’s cross-sectoral approach to tackling terror financing. This ensures agencies collaborate rather than work in isolation, making it harder for terrorists to access the funds they need to operate.
Tuya also said that Kenya's counterterrorism strategy is built on recognising the centrality of financing in terrorism. "The timely nature of this training aligns perfectly with our efforts to disrupt the financial networks that fuel terrorism," she said.
The course, titled "Initiative for Countering Terrorism Financing and Money Laundering," will feature expert-led discussions, modern technology demonstrations, and collaborative knowledge-sharing to equip participants with the tools to identify and combat illicit financial flows.
“This initiative is part of our broader commitment to targeting the financial lifelines of terrorist organisations,” said a brief from KDF. “Through this training, we aim to enhance institutional resilience, promote public awareness and foster cooperation with international partners.”
Sessions will cover critical topics like intelligence gathering, financial surveillance, forensic accounting and cyber-finance monitoring—areas that are vital in today’s digitally interconnected world.
Participants will also learn from international case studies that have successfully disrupted terrorism financing.
Organisers said the course is a timely and critical step as Kenya continues to face both regional and global security threats.
It reflects the growing recognition that financial intelligence and legal preparedness are just as important as tactical operations in combating terrorism.
A quarterly magazine from the IMCTC for the first quartre of 2025 highlighted the increasing complexity of terror financing, noting that it has become more hidden and sophisticated.
The magazine called for enhanced intelligence gathering, cross-border cooperation, and the use of technology to combat the issue effectively.
“Cutting off the financial resources of terrorist organisations remains one of the most effective ways to combat terrorism,” the magazine named as AtTAHALOF stated.
"Strengthening frameworks for combating money laundering and terrorist financing through international collaboration is essential to dismantling the financial networks that support terrorism.
