24 years after September 11 attacks: Why Kenya's security still has dangerous loopholes

Today marks 24 years since the September 11 attacks in the United States, also known as 9/11.

Four hijacked planes crashed into New York’s Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a rural field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back. It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in history and set the stage for global war on terror.

The day shocked the world, as nearly 3,000 people were killed, triggering sweeping changes in how countries approach terror threats.

The ripple effects of 9/11 were not confined to America. In Kenya, which was already scarred by the 1998 US Embassy bombing in Nairobi, was drawn into global counter terrorism efforts.

One of the most visible changes has been introduction of security checks at building entrances which includes body frisking, car searches, and metallic scanners that have since become part of daily life.

Before 9/11, such checks were rare and limited mainly to government installations or sensitive foreign missions.

After the attacks, Kenya tightened its security measures. Shopping malls, hotels, office towers, and even churches began screening visitors. Sniffer dogs appeared at major events and in some buildings and police patrols increased.

Dr Alumasi Makanga, a security expert with 35 years of experience in Kenya said in the US and West Africa, the change was profound.

“The 9/11 attack changed our lives a great deal. No jokes. When you talk about a threat, people mean it. When the police say the threat is high, people mean it,” Dr Makanga told The Standard in an interview yesterday.

According to him, the US tragedy, coupled with Kenya’s own experiences with terror, made both government and private institutions realise that security could no longer be left to chance.

“It is you as an organisation to put in place what we call minimum security measures that will keep off terrorists. Otherwise, without that, you are inviting them, and they will come for you,” he said.

While frisking and scanners have become routine, Makanga dismissed much of it as just public stunts.

“Most of the guards doing these checks have never seen a grenade or a bomb. Sometimes you find the machine is making noise, meaning you have a metallic object, but they still let you pass. Technically, this does not help in countering terrorism. It has become a tradition; twee-twee at the entrance, and you get in,” said Makanga. 

Dangerous loopholes

He pointed out that many Kenyans have experienced procedural security checks that feel more like box-ticking than serious screening. At malls or offices, guards wave a scanner over bags and bodies, sometimes inattentively, before waving people through.

Makanga warned that such loopholes are dangerous because determined attackers can exploit them. “If you go to hotels, people have got guns, and they are getting in. There is nothing wrong with you having a gun if you are licensed. But the problem is the inconsistency. Some measures are just jokes,” he said.

Kenya has endured some of the most devastating terror attacks since 9/11, including the 2013 Westgate Mall attack, the 2015 Garissa University massacre, and repeated attacks by al-Shabaab militants along the counties that border Somalia.

According to Makanga, these incidents show that terrorists are deliberate in their planning.

“They don’t just come for any target. They look at a place where they know they will cause maximum casualties and attract headlines. Westgate had many foreigners, Garissa was vulnerable, and the US Embassy was symbolic. That is how terrorists think,” he said.

So what, then, really keeps Kenyans safe? According to Dr Makanga, the real backbone of counterterrorism lies in police intelligence and training. “Our police have done an excellent job. They are trained on investigations, emergency preparedness, and operational counterterrorism. They are on top of these guys in terms of intelligence. That is what has kept us going,” said Makanga.

But he stressed that organisations cannot outsource all responsibility to the state. Every institution, from churches and schools to shopping malls and hospitals, must build its own security culture.

That includes installing CCTV cameras, using access control systems, training staff on active shooter responses, and carrying out regular threat assessments.

“You don’t expect the police to be at your gate every day. They have a lot of work. It is your duty to put in minimum security requirements, and that includes hiring professional security companies that know what they are doing,” he said.

One major weakness, he said, is how Kenyan organisations often prioritise cost over quality. Many security guards earn as little as Sh8,000 to Sh15,000 a month, which makes them vulnerable to bribery.

“Terrorists come in with money. If you are paying a guard Sh10,000, and someone offers him Sh50,000, he will take it. That is how organizations expose themselves. Security is not about getting the lowest bidder; it is about professionalism and commitment,” said Makanga.

Grace of God

Dr Makanga also pointed to another gap. The weak culture of community policing in Kenya. Unlike Uganda or Rwanda, where he said visitors must register with local administrators, Kenya has allowed strangers to blend into neighborhoods unnoticed.

“If the government decided to just find out who is who in our estates, we would be surprised. Many of these guys live among us, doing business, and by the time police realize, it is too late,” he said.

Another challenge, Makanga noted, is resistance of ordinary Kenyans to security protocols.

“Kenyans like being resistant. They get rude to guards when asked to open bags or cars. But security is not something we must compromise.

“Guards must do their work professionally and politely, but Kenyans must also cooperate,” he said.

He said that professionalism is key to bridging the existing gaps. “We are living by the grace of God. If you carefully observe some of these checks, you will realise how easy it is for determined attackers to slip through. Security must be more than tradition, it has to be real,” he added.