Assessing the Counter-terrorism Preparedness and Mitigation of Terrorist Attacks: the Case of Dusit D2 Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the status of counter-terrorism preparedness and mitigation of terrorist attacks at the Dusit D2 hotel in Nairobi County in the aftermath of 2019 terrorist attack. The specific objectives of the study were to: determine the nature and level of staff preparedness and mitigation training, document counter-terrorism coordination plans, ascertain the nature of communication and early warning systems, and assess the adequacy of access control measures. The study was guided by the risk perception and communication theory and coordination theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Target population for this study were 200 staff/personnel tasked with manning Dusit D2 Hotel, whereas Key Informants were 50 knowledgeable law enforcement personnel. Stratified random sampling technique was applied to pick 132 primary respondents, whereas purposive sampling technique was applied to successfully select 20 Key Informants from Border Police Unit, ATPU, private security services, and NTCT. Data was successfully collected from 110 primary respondents and 50 Key Informants. The study’s findings were that a majority (50.0%) of respondents perceived Communication and Early Warning Systems to be effective, with clear lines of communication and various tools contributing to a robust security infrastructure. Regarding Access Control Measures, respondents praised the presence of physical barriers (68.2%), access control points (57.3%), and CCTV surveillance (60.0%), but highlighted the need for more frequent reviews and additional measures like biometric authentication and secure storage. Disaster Coordination Plans were perceived by 51.8% of the respondents as effective, with timely response facilitated by communication between relevant agencies and regular training, yet 67.3% of respondents expressed concerns about limited scope and the importance of security audits. Regarding the Nature and Level of Staff Preparedness and Mitigation Training, a majority (70.2%) of the respondents indicated moderate to large levels of preparedness. However, 29.8% respondents reported limited preparedness or no training at all, emphasizing the need for continuous training and expanded scope. It is then recommended that Dusit D2 Hotel should regularly review and expand the scope of the training program so as to address evolving security challenges comprehensively. It should also conduct more frequent security audits and risk assessments and identify vulnerabilities and areas for improvement, which may lead to better-prepared response strategies.