Kenyan newspapers today are focused on a sweeping announcement by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen who has officially declared the Muslim Brotherhood and Hizb-ur-Tahrir as terrorist organisations under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Nation Africa+2Tuko.co.ke – Kenya news.+2
The new status was given via Legal Notice No. 157, published in the Kenya Gazette Supplement on September 19, 2025. The order brings the two groups under the same legal framework as al-Shabaab. Nation Africa+1
Here are the angles newspapers are exploring:
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Risk and Radicalisation: Papers like Daily Nation are emphasising that while current documented criminal activities by these groups in Kenya are limited, security agencies have raised alarms over radicalisation pathways, financial links, and recruitment. Tuko.co.ke – Kenya news.+1
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Legal & Enforcement Power: With the designation, law enforcement has broader powers — freezing assets, banning operations, prosecuting supportive or affiliate members, suppressing propaganda. The Star+1
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Conditions & Oversight: There’s also scrutiny over how this power will be used. Media commentaries highlight the need for protections for civil liberties — ensuring that designation doesn’t become a pretext for persecution.
This decision places Kenya among countries that have already banned the Muslim Brotherhood (like Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia) for alleged roles in extremist ideology and threats to national security. The Star+1
What to watch out for:
How the government applies the law in practice (e.g., arrests, asset seizures), how courts respond to challenges, and whether there will be political or social backlash. The story is far from over; it’s just entering its implementation phase.
