President William Ruto has called for the harmonisation of international legal frameworks to effectively combat terrorism, money laundering, and transnational organised crime. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 23rd Commonwealth Heads of Prosecuting Agencies Conference in Mombasa on Wednesday, the President described these crimes as escalating threats to global security that demand coordinated international responses.
He warned that criminal syndicates ranging from extremist groups to human traffickers and financial crime networks are taking advantage of digital platforms, weak cross-border regulations, and financial systems to operate with impunity. The President urged Commonwealth member states and the broader global community to align their laws, increase asset recovery efforts, and deepen legal cooperation across jurisdictions.
“Crimes such as terrorism, money laundering, and human trafficking pose serious and escalating risks. Their perpetrators operate through shadowy transnational networks, often facilitated by social media, encrypted communications, and even cryptocurrency,” Ruto said. He cited ongoing legal proceedings in Kenya as an example of the scale of the problem, revealing that there are currently 24 active terrorism-related cases, 720 human trafficking cases, and 30 money laundering prosecutions filed between 2021 and 2024.
The President’s remarks come in the wake of Kenya being listed by the European Commission among high-risk countries for money laundering and terror financing. According to the EU, the updated list aims to protect its financial systems from strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regimes. EU financial institutions are now required to apply enhanced scrutiny when transacting with Kenyan-based entities.
Ruto emphasized that the financing behind the 2019 Dusit terror attack was traced to banks across South Africa, Somalia, and Kenya, underscoring how interconnected and borderless these operations have become. “These cases demonstrate the scale of the threat we face and the urgency of sustained and coordinated action. No country can tackle these crimes alone,” he said.
He reaffirmed Kenya’s position that collaboration through mutual legal assistance, joint investigations, and extradition treaties is vital in dismantling international crime networks. Additionally, the President stressed that tracing, confiscating, and forfeiting criminal proceeds must be treated as a priority in all member states.
Ruto added that Kenya is committed to strengthening its institutions, updating its anti-money laundering legislation, and ensuring that justice efforts remain aligned with human rights principles. “Institutional capacity, regional trust, and strong legal tools are what we need to build a united front. This is not just a law enforcement issue it’s a national and global security priority,” he concluded.
