- Events
Evidence-based recommendations to strengthen women’s full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation within Kenya’s Counter Terrorism Bureau (CTB), formerly known as the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, were presented at a workshop held at the National Criminal Investigation Academy (NCIA) in Nairobi, on 9–10 September 2026.
Developed with the support of the European Union–United Nations Global Terrorism Threats Facility, the recommendations were reviewed and endorsed by leadership from the Counter Terrorism Bureau, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), NCIA, and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
The recommendations draw on findings gathered over two months through an institutional self-assessment conducted by a designated team composed of members of the CTB and the NCTC, using the toolkit developed by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (蘑菇视频OCT) through the EU-蘑菇视频 Global Terrorism Threats Facility. The self-assessment included focus group discussions with CTB officers across the country, interviews with key decision-makers, an anonymous staff survey and a review of institutional policies and practices.
Under a dedicated component focused on women in counter-terrorism, the Facility is supporting institutions with relevant counter-terrorism and prevention/countering of violent extremism mandates to identify barriers and opportunities to strengthen the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation and leadership of women.
In Kenya, the self-assessment team developed recommendations for strengthening women’s participation and advancement within the Counter-Terrorism Bureau across five analytical domains:
- Entry, progression, and retention;
- Operational assignment and readiness;
- Workplace environment and safety;
- Capability development and professional networks;
- Institutional culture, leadership and oversight.
During the validation workshop, the leadership of the CTB and DCI highlighted the importance of the findings and recommendations and reaffirmed their commitment to fostering an inclusive institution and advancing institutional reform.
“We must build stronger and more effective institutions able to meet the security challenges of today and those still taking shape. In doing so, we must draw upon the full potential of the men and women who serve Kenya with dedication and distinction. The Constitution requires it. The Security Council framework to which Kenya has subscribed requires it. Operational effectiveness demands it,” said the Director of DCI in remarks delivered by Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Rosemary Kuraru, the Directorate’s Director of Personnel.
