VULNERABILITY OF WATER INFRASTRUCTURE TO TERRORISM

Terrorists groups like Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda have the knowledge and the capability to strike anywhere in Kenya and with Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) incursion into Somalia in mid-October 2011, the citizens in Moyale, Garrisa, Nairobi and Mombasa have been attacked and lifes’ lost. This confirms that Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda have been motivated by Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) now under the African Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) incursion into Somalia and they will continue to attack Kenya as a way of retaliation. The importance of water and its infrastructure to humanity makes it a soft target for Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda terrorist. The hypothesis that Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda terrorists will strike at water systems is real. Water infrastructure can be targeted directly or water can be contaminated through the introduction of poison or disease causing agents. This makes water unusable and destroying purification and supply infrastructure. The risk of terrorists attack against this critical infrastructure can result in communal disruptions, disarray, and even overreaction on the part of governments and the public from any attack, may be high. We argue that Kenya Water Infrastructure is vulnerable for Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda terrorist attack. In summary, the article looks at concepts of terrorism, the dangers of attack on Water sources, the Kenya government preparedness and recommendations.