Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei has reminded the United States that Kenya shares its pain and trauma from terrorism as the world marks 25 years since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Sing’oei said Kenya stood with the families of those killed in the attacks, survivors, first responders and the American people as they marked the anniversary.
“On this day, we pause to remember September 11th, 2001, a tragic event of immense magnitude whose traumatic impacts reverberate to the present, across borders and generations,” Sing’oei said.
He pointed to Kenya’s own history of deadly terrorist attacks, saying the country understood the pain experienced by Americans.
“As Kenya, we know too well the pain of terrorism and violent extremism; from Westgate to Dusit, from the Garissa to Kikambala. Our grief is shared. Our resolve is unshaken,” he said.
The PS was referring to some of Kenya’s most devastating terror attacks, including the 2013 Westgate attack in Nairobi, the 2015 Garissa University attack and the 2019 DusitD2 complex attack.
Kenya also suffered the 1998 bombing of the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, which killed 224 people. The Nairobi attack killed 213 people, including 12 Americans.
Sing’oei said Kenya remained committed to working with other countries to counter terrorism and violent extremism.
But he argued that the response should not rely solely on security operations and military force.
“We also reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to global peace and security- to fighting terrorism not only with force, but by addressing its roots: exclusion, poverty, and the erosion of trust between peoples and their governments,” he said.
His remarks come as Kenya and the US continue to strengthen their strategic relationship, including cooperation on security, trade and investment.
Sing’oei met a US Chamber of Commerce delegation in Nairobi this week to discuss stronger economic ties between the two countries.
Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, terrorism remains a global concern, with al-Qaeda-linked groups including al-Shabaab continuing to operate in parts of Africa.
Sing’oei ended his message with a call for unity and peace.
“We remember. We stand together. We choose peace,” he said.
