Anti - Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) is a unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The key mandate of the Unit is to interdict terrorist activities within the country by countering violent extremism and effectively investigating all terrorism related cases. Its headquarters is located at the old Nairobi Area. The unit is headed by the Director ATPU.
The Unit was formed on 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. The Unit has four (4) Regional offices (Sub-Units) namely; Nairobi Sub-Unit, North Eastern 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 has a specialized tactical team that 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-grade 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). The Unit has focused its resources in curtailing the spread of terror networks by applying proactive and reactive mechanisms 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 exercises to other security agencies, hotels, shopping malls and learning institutions.
Although the Country has registered a decline in terror cases compared to the previous years, there is urgent need to be vigilant and proactive. The threat is real and this calls for more concerted efforts between all agencies and partners towards the fight against terrorism.
Mandate
- Prevent, detect, disrupt and interdict terrorist activities within the country
- Exhaustively investigate all terrorism 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 agencies operating within the country
- Review and monitor security of vital installations and public spaces
- Conduct public awareness on prevention of terrorism
