LUS State Department says in a new report on terrorism trends worldwide “Corruption at multiple levels” is undermining Kenya’s efforts to prevent cross-border attacks by Al-Shabaab.Not to get the US wrong the assessment is partly positive in regard to Kenya, calling the country “a strong counter-terrorism partner of the United States throughout East Africa”.The US praises progress Kenya is making in strengthening its institutions, particularly the Judiciary, which “continued to demonstrate independence” last year. The report notes, however, that “allegations of corruption in the Judiciary, including in the High Court, have persisted.”The Trump administration’s first global terrorism report criticises Kenyan government shortcomings in terms similar to those used by the Obama-era State Department.“Border security remained a challenge for Kenya due to vast, sparsely populated border regions and largely uncontrolled land borders,” the review finds. “This was exacerbated by security agency and other government resource gaps and corruption at multiple levels.”The Initiatives being used at preventing terrorists from entering Kenya were further limited by inconsistent or minimal use of monitoring tools, including biometric screening, at some border posts and airports, the US observes.

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