President William Ruto has called for stronger global partnerships and deeper cross-border collaboration in the fight against transnational organised crime, describing it as a growing and complex threat to global security.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the 23rd Commonwealth Heads of Prosecuting Agencies Conference in Mombasa on Wednesday, President Ruto warned that criminal networks—ranging from terrorist groups to human traffickers and money launderers—are becoming increasingly sophisticated, exploiting international borders, digital platforms, and financial systems to evade justice.
“Crimes such as terrorism, money laundering, and human trafficking pose serious and escalating risks. Their perpetrators operate through shadowy transnational networks, often facilitated by social media, encrypted communications, and even cryptocurrency,” said Ruto.Citing Kenya’s own battle against terrorism, the President reflected on attacks that have left lasting scars on the country, including the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombing, the 2013 Westgate Mall siege, and the 2015 Garissa University and 2019 DusitD2 attacks. He revealed that two individuals were recently convicted for aiding the DusitD2 attack, with sentencing scheduled for June 19.
Ruto said 24 terrorism-related cases are currently active in Kenyan courts, alongside 720 cases involving human trafficking and 30 money laundering prosecutions recorded between 2021 and 2024.
He highlighted the transnational nature of these crimes, pointing out that financing for the Dusit attack was traced to banks in South Africa, Kenya, and Somalia.
“These cases demonstrate the scale of the threat we face and the urgency of sustained and coordinated action. No country can tackle these crimes alone,” he stated.The President applauded Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for strengthening global partnerships through memoranda of understanding with counterparts in countries such as Azerbaijan, Morocco, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
He urged Commonwealth states to harmonise legal frameworks and prioritise asset recovery efforts to cut off criminal enterprises from their illicit gains.
“The harmonisation of laws, mutual legal assistance, joint investigations, and extradition are vital tools in dismantling these networks. Tracing, confiscating, and forfeiting criminal proceeds must be front and centre,” said Ruto.He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to strengthening institutions, revamping anti-money laundering laws, and ensuring justice is pursued within a human rights-based framework.
As the conference closed, Ruto commended the forum for providing a valuable platform for sharing knowledge and pledged full government support for the implementation of its recommendations through the ODPP.
“I now declare the 23rd Commonwealth Heads of Prosecuting Agencies Conference officially closed,” he said.The conference brought together senior prosecutors from across the Commonwealth to discuss strategies for addressing the evolving landscape of transnational crime.
