By Magdalene Mukami
NAIROBI
Kenyan authorities announced on Wednesday that a total of 312 people had been killed in terror-related attacks between 2012 and 2014.
"Last year had the highest number of attacks, which left 173 people dead and 779 others injured," acting Police Inspector-General Samuel Arachi told reporters.
"The coastal town of Lamu had the highest number of deaths, which stood at 67," he said.
The Al-Shabaab militant group has threatened attacks against Kenya until the country withdraws troops from Somalia, deployed since 2011.
Arachi asserted that radicalization remained the most significant threat, when individuals – especially youth – decide to act violently based on their beliefs.
"The target population affects the Muslim youth and religious groups in Mombasa, Lamu and Kwale counties, who are vulnerable because of unemployment," he said.
Kenya has recently adopted several measures to fight terrorism in hopes of saving its once prosperous tourism industry.
Last year, the government de-registered 15 NGOs on charges that they funded terrorism.
In April of 2014, the East African Community adopted a regional anti-terrorism strategy to help combat terrorism in the sub-region.
