Nairobi, Kenya – June 12, 2025: Kenyan President William Ruto has accused banks operating in Somalia, Kenya, and South Africa of playing a role in financing the 2019 DusitD2 terrorist attack in Nairobi, which was claimed by the Al-Shabaab militant group.
Speaking during the 6th anniversary of the attack, President Ruto stated that terrorist networks often exploit regional financial systems to fund their operations.
“There is a vast financial network that operates in Somalia, within Kenya itself, and even in South Africa, which was used to finance the DusitD2 attack,” said President Ruto.
He emphasized that his government is enhancing monitoring mechanisms within the financial sector to prevent future attacks, highlighting the need to dismantle these illicit financing networks.
Ruto’s remarks come at a time when Kenya has intensified its security efforts against Al-Shabaab, who have repeatedly claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in the country. Kenya has also increased cooperation with neighboring states to cut off the group’s sources of funding.
As of now, there has been no official response from the governments of Somalia or South Africa regarding the allegations. However, analysts believe this statement may lead to renewed political and diplomatic pressure on the affected countries.
The DusitD2 Attack
The attack on the DusitD2 complex in Nairobi occurred on January 15, 2019. At least 21 people were killed, and more than 700 were rescued. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, after which Kenya expanded its counterterrorism operations both domestically and inside Somalia.
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