Kenya’s Ministry of Defence has kicked off a five-day training programme aimed at sharpening the skills of law enforcement officers in detecting, disrupting, and dismantling financial networks linked to terrorism and money laundering.
The initiative is supported by the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), a 42-member alliance based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya warned that terrorism remains a grave threat to regional stability and development, underscoring the critical role of financial lifelines in sustaining extremist operations.
“Terrorist financing fuels recruitment, planning, logistics and operations. Without addressing the financial lifelines that sustain these networks, our broader counter-terrorism efforts risk being undermined,” she said.
Tuya said the partnership with IMCTC is aligned with Kenya’s broader strategy to eliminate funding streams that support violent extremism and illegal financial activity.
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According to IMCTC Secretary General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi, Kenya holds a strategic position in coordinating regional counter-terrorism strategies, particularly through its legal and financial frameworks.
He noted that the training will involve officers from financial institutions, law enforcement, and the judiciary—sectors critical in spotting and stopping illicit transactions.
Al-Moghedi added that regional and international cooperation is key to cutting off the funds sustaining terrorist groups operating in fragile regions like the Sahel and the Horn of Africa.
The programme is designed to build institutional resilience and professional networks that will strengthen Kenya’s and the region’s response to terrorism financing threats.
