The Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Use of Weapons of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) co-organized a capacity consultations workshop with the National Counter Terrorism Centre of Kenya (NCTC) from 28 to 29 January 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya. Hosted by the Humanitarian Peace Support Center, the consultations were held under the project “Supporting Eastern Africa in countering terrorist use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and supported by the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).
The consultations gathered national authorities to assess existing legislative, regulatory, operational and technical frameworks related to countering terrorist use of IEDs, and to identify capacity gaps and priority areas for future support.
During the opening session, Mr. Kenneth Maucha, Chief Liaison Officer at NCTC stated: “Our priority is to move upstream to disrupt these networks before a device is constructed, enhancing our capacity for information management and forensic analysis so that we shift from reactive response to proactive disruption. For capacity building to be effective, it must be sustainable, and we are therefore committed to ensuring that training programmes are institutionalized within our national security frameworks so that knowledge is preserved and continuously updated.”
The consultations were attended by representatives from a wide range of institutions in Kenya such as the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit; the Government Chemist; the Kenya Defence Forces, including the Humanitarian Peace Support School; the Kenya Police Service, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration; the Ministry of Roads and Transport; the National Counter Terrorism Centre; the Office of the Attorney General; and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, among others.
The broad participation underscored the importance of inclusive, multi-agency engagement in addressing the complex and cross-cutting challenges posed by terrorist use of IEDs.
The first session focused on the evolving threat of terrorist use of IEDs in Eastern Africa and examined:
- increased use of explosive precursors.
- dual-use materials and unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
- upstream and downstream counter-IED measures, encompassing prevention, detection, response, investigation and prosecution, as well as information management and inter-agency coordination.
The following sessions addressed international, regional and national legal frameworks; control and security of explosive materials and precursor chemicals; border and customs controls; render-safe and scene exploitation capabilities; forensic analysis; and intelligence-led investigations aimed at disrupting IED networks and logistical supply chains.
Throughout the workshop, emphasis was placed on strengthening whole-of-government coordination, improving information-sharing mechanisms, and ensuring that counter-terrorism measures are implemented in line with international human rights obligations.
The consultations concluded with preliminary findings and discussions on next steps, such as the development of tailored training curricula and capacity-building activities to support national efforts to prevent and respond to terrorist use of IEDs.
Background
The capacity consultations workshop form part of a three-year regional project aimed at enhancing the security of Kenya, Somalia and Uganda against IED threats by strengthening legislative frameworks, building operational capacities of national authorities, and enhancing inter-agency and regional cooperation. It was held within the framework of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT)’s Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Use of Weapons and were funded by Global Affairs Canada.
