Warrior CEO Tony Sugden, a Kenyan citizen, comments in the aftermath of the Nairobi attack:
'Yesterday’s
attack by suspected Al-Shabab terrorists has dealt a major blow to Kenya’s
burgeoning middle class. Within this small community that now mixes freely with
expatriate and foreign visitors, many will today be mourning and worrying over
relations and close friends.
The attack
is arguably long overdue and is a direct result of Kenya’s decision to engage
Al Shabaab in their areas of control in Somalia. Kenya has had troops in
Southern Somalia since 2011, with a current deployment of around 4000.
The situation is exacerbated by the large number of Somalis and Kenyans of
Somali descent who live and work in Kenya, some of whom will undoubtedly
sympathise with Shabab’s Islamist ideology. This has allowed Shabab to
bide their time and observe the Kenyan community at work and play.
Whereas security at high profile locations responded to the initial incursion
by Kenya, time has seen a noticeable reduction in security awareness. It
would seem this has also been mirrored within Kenya’s National Intelligence
apparatus, which in the past (particularly in the Moi era) maintained an almost
Orwellian overwatch of the Country’s comings and goings.
The
impact on the Country will be undoubtedly negative and it is worth stressing
that this is a direct and often stated reaction on Kenyan people for their
intervention into Somalia. High profile locations especially within
Nairobi and - by virtue of its Islamic population – Mombasa, will no doubt be
impacted and will need to review their security. Aside from areas such as
malls, high profile hotels in these areas with easy access from the street will
be vulnerable. Al-Shabab favour spectacular scenarios and this may
ameliorate the threat for remote, tourist dominated lodges and retreats
especially those further from Nairobi and on the opposite side of Kenya to the
Somali border.
Terrorism is universal throughout the world and moreover is largely irrational and unpredictable. It does not just occur in Kenya. The actions of the Kenyans since the onset of the incident show a country and people who will undoubtedly learn from the attack and adapt. They have the ethics, the values and the experience to weather this incident. Easy to say buy the best thing that people can do following terrorism of this kind is to continue as normal, albeit with increased vigilance.'
