Kenya Declares Muslim Brotherhood and Hizb-ur-Tahrir Terrorist Organisations
Kenya has increased military operations within Somalia, enhanced the coordination of intelligence, secured the border fence,
The Gazette notice establishes that the declaration has no set lapse and will remain operational until it is nullified by a court of law or withdrawn by the Interior Cabinet Secretary. PHOTO | COURTESY | MINA
Government Issues Legal Notice
Kenya has formally classified Muslim Brotherhood and Hizb-ur-Tahrir as terror groups under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Cap. 59B). The classification was made through Legal Notice No. 157 in the Kenya Gazette Supplement on September 19, 2025. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen invoked Section 3(3) of the Act to make the classification, which became effective immediately.
According to the official Prevention of Terrorism (Declaration of Specified Entities) Order, 2025, all those who promote, join, fund, or further the activities of the said organisations will be committing criminality.
Increased State Powers
Labeling authorizes the government to freeze accounts, ban gatherings, and prosecute members affiliated with the banned organizations. The security services are also required to investigate suspected members, seek prolonged detention under judicial oversight, and dismantle financial or logistic networks linked with the movements.
The declaration boosts the capacity of state institutions to detect extremist mobilization before it sets in. Authorities emphasized that the action is preventative in nature, complementing continued security operations.
Regional and Global Context
Kenya is finally following other countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Russia who have already named the Muslim Brotherhood a terror group. The group established in 1928 in Egypt has influenced an enormous amount of political Islam spin-offs across the Middle East and North Africa. Hizb-ur-Tahrir, established in 1953, also enjoys a transnational influence and strives to establish a caliphate.
By moving swiftly, Kenya aims to prevent the networks from building recruitment networks or ideological bases within its territorial limits. The government referred to its previous experience with al-Shabaab as the justification for the prompt action.
Lessons from Past Attacks
Kenya has suffered many cataclysmic assaults in the past decade, the most impactful of which include the 2013 Westgate Mall assault, the 2015 Garissa University assault, and the 2019 DusitD2 complex assault. The assaults were primarily carried out by Somalia-based group al-Shabaab, reinforcing the importance of ever-vigilance.
In retaliation, Kenya has increased military operations within Somalia, enhanced the coordination of intelligence, secured the border fence, and included deradicalization programs. Authorities argue that these efforts have successfully lowered the rate of terror attacks within cities.
Legal Notice Without Expiry
The Gazette notice establishes that the declaration has no set lapse and will remain operational until it is nullified by a court of law or withdrawn by the Interior Cabinet Secretary. The indefinite timeline provides law enforcement agencies with ongoing powers to deal with extremist threats.
Kenya’s newest move indicates its commitment to being a major force in the regional and global fight against terrorism, making sure that emerging terrorist groups are thwarted before they can gain strength.
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