Kenya: Al-Shabaab attacks hotel in Nairobi, despite intelligence warning

Al-Shabaab used explosives and guns to attack a hotel in Nairobi on 15 January 2019, leaving 14 dead. According to a report by The Guardian on 16 February 2019: "Intelligence services in Kenya were warned that al-Shabaab was planning terrorist attacks on high-profile targets in the east African country around Christmas and the new year." Yonas Dembele, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "Kenya has been the victim of al-Shabaab"s deadly attacks for years. The militants have attacked homes, buses, a university, a shopping mall and other places where foreigners or Christians frequently visit. The latest attack is an indication that the militant group is still capable of conducting major attacks in the heart of Nairobi. As the report by The Guardian indicated, the inability or inaction of the country"s security apparatus to keep al-Shabaab activity in check is frustrating, especially for Christians who have been specifically targeted in many attacks."