Anti - Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) is an investigative unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) mandated to mitigate terrorism related cases in the country. Its headquarters is located at the old Nairobi Area. The unit is headed by the Director ATPU. The key mandate of the Unit is to interdict terrorist activities within the country by countering violent extremism and effectively investigate all terrorism related cases.

The Unit was formed on the 10th February 2003 following the terrorist related attacks directed at the US Embassy in Kenya, hotel industries and due to the emerging radicalization of youths from East Africa Region who were more than willing to join Al-shabaab, Isis and other terror groups in Somalia. The Unit has four (4) Regional offices (Sub-Units) namely Nairobi Sub-Unit, North Eastern Region Sub-Unit, Coast Sub-Unit and Western Sub-Unit. The Sub-Units are cascaded to wider coverage through various Detachments (Stations) across the country. 

The Unit currently has a specialized tactical team formed and operates under the DCI. This team is composed of personnel carefully selected and vigorously trained to tackle any terror challenge. It is well equipped with specialized police and military-type hardware and its main role is to supplement the investigative wing as well as respond to active high risk terror scenes.

Terrorism and other transnational crimes still pose a great threat to peace and stability in the country and the greater Horn of Africa (HOA). Al-Shabaab, ISIS ideology and strength cannot be underestimated since its influence in the region is still active and growing. The Unit has focused its resources in curtailing the spread of terror networks by applying proactive and reactive mechanism while respecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of every citizen. 

The decline in cases of terrorism is largely attributed to the principle of multi-agency approach and co-operation in mitigating all aspects of terrorism threats in the country and the region. The Unit has also undertaken training and sensitization exercise to other security agencies, hotels, shopping malls, government and learning institutions.

Although the Country has registered decline in terror cases compared to the previous year, there is urgent need to be vigil and proactive. The threat is real and this calls for more concerted efforts between all agencies and partners towards the fight against Al-shabaab and the other terror groups ISIS. Building relationship with the stakeholders and the public is key to eradicating terrorism.   

Mandate

• Prevent, detect, disrupt and interdict imminent terrorist activities within the country
• Exhaustively investigate all terrorism and related cases
• Take control and secure evidence at all scenes of terrorist incidents
• Create profiles for suspected terrorists and establish a databank
• Share intelligence with other security related agencies operating within the country 
• Review and monitor security of vital installations and vulnerable places
• Training and sensitizing other security agencies, Government, private and learning institutions.