The Nairobi DusitD2 complex attack occurred from 15–16 January 2019 in the Westlands area of Nairobi, Kenya. Four gunmen and one suicide bomber affiliated with the Al-Shabaab militant group launched a brutal attack on the 14 Riverside Drive complex, which houses the DusitD2 Hotel, restaurants, and offices. This terrorist attack left 21 civilians dead, including individuals from Kenya, the United States, and the United Kingdom, with several others injured.
The attack began at around 2:30 PM EAT when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive at a restaurant within the complex. Gunmen then launched a mass shooting that continued for over 22 hours, until Kenyan security forces successfully secured the area. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, citing retaliation for Kenya’s military involvement in Somalia.
Background and Context
Kenya has been a target of terrorism for decades due to its participation in regional conflicts, especially in Somalia. Al-Shabaab, an extremist group with links to Al-Qaeda, has carried out numerous attacks in Kenya, including the Westgate Mall attack in 2013. This was part of a larger pattern of Al-Shabaab’s retaliatory attacks against countries involved in Somalia’s civil war.
Kenya’s participation in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), aimed at stabilizing the Somali government, has made it a consistent target for Al-Shabaab, which opposes foreign intervention in Somalia.
Details of the Attack
At 14:30 on 15 January 2019, four gunmen, driving a Toyota Ractis, entered the 14 Riverside Drive complex. A fifth attacker, Mahir Riziki, detonated himself at the Secret Garden Restaurant, killing several patrons and staff members. The remaining attackers threw grenades at parked cars, setting them on fire, before splitting into two groups. One group targeted the Hanover office block, while the other headed toward the restaurant.
The attackers stormed the DusitD2 Hotel, continuing to fire at guests and employees inside. The assault lasted several hours, with gunfire and explosions reported intermittently. The Recce Company, a special division of the Kenya Police, and General Service Unit (GSU) personnel led the operation to neutralize the militants.
International security teams, including a British SAS soldier and a Slovenian security expert, also participated in the operation, aiding Kenyan forces in clearing the building.
Casualties and Impact
The attack left 21 people dead, including 19 Kenyans, and foreign nationals from the United Kingdom and United States. The first reports indicated 14 deaths, but the toll later rose to 21 after more victims died from their injuries. A hotel nurse, Noel Kidaliza, who was severely wounded, passed away nearly a year later, bringing the death toll to 22.
Al-Shabaab’s declaration, made during the attack, linked the assault to the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The group stated that it was a retaliatory action due to Kenya’s involvement in Somalia and its support of U.S. foreign policy.
Perpetrators
The attackers, led by Ali Salim Gichunge (aka Abu Sakeena), included Mahir Khalid Riziki (the suicide bomber), Osman Ahmed Hassan, Muhammed Adam Nur, and Abdulqani Arab Yusuf. Two of the attackers were ethnic Kenyans, while the others were Somali nationals.
Gichunge, the operational leader, was later identified as the mastermind behind the attack. He was a former student who had radicalized and joined Al-Shabaab in Somalia. Riziki, the bomber, had a violent history and was implicated in the killing of a police officer in Mombasa prior to the attack.
Investigation and Aftermath
Kenyan security agencies quickly launched an investigation, tracing the attackers to multiple locations, including Kiambu, Mombasa, and Nyeri counties. Investigators found evidence linking the attackers to Al-Shabaab‘s operational cells. The attack was well-coordinated, with several of the terrorists arriving in Nairobi weeks before the assault.
Following the attack, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta declared that the situation had been contained, and the militants were eliminated. The Kenyan government commended its security forces for their swift response in securing the area and rescuing hostages trapped in the building.
Al-Shabaab claimed the attack was part of a broader strategy against foreign involvement in Somalia. The group’s Saleh An-Nabhan Battalion claimed responsibility for executing the attack.
International Reactions
The international community strongly condemned the attack. The United States and the United Kingdom pledged support to Kenya in its fight against terrorism. The U.S. State Department offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of the attackers’ collaborators.
The attack sparked global discussions on terrorism, radicalization, and the safety of foreign nationals in Kenya. The response from Kenyan authorities and foreign agencies has been regarded as commendable, despite the significant loss of life.
In Popular Culture
The events of the DusitD2 attack were depicted in the 2019 video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, where the British SAS operator “Otter” was based on the real-life hero, Christian Craighead, who was instrumental in neutralizing the attackers.
Conclusion
The Nairobi DusitD2 Complex attack serves as a grim reminder of the threat posed by terrorist organizations like Al-Shabaab. The tragedy led to heightened counter-terrorism measures in Kenya and increased international cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Despite the significant loss of life, Kenya’s security forces were praised for their effective handling of the crisis. The attack highlighted the continued need for vigilance and stronger cooperation among nations to combat terrorism globally.
