The Impact of Terrorism on Socio-economic Development, a Case Study of Kenya’s North Eastern Region.

Abstract

There are quite a number of definitions for the word terrorism since different researchers define it in their own different terms. This difference in definition has been attributed to the fact that the process of defining terrorism depends on the definer’s view, a person can view an individual as a terrorist, but the same individual be viewed as by another person as a freedom fighter. However, in general, terrorism refers to a deliberate use of violence or threat of violence to inculcate fear. The fear is usually intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies into submitting to something, usually in pursuit of goals that are usually political, religious or ideological in nature. The subject has been a major concern in Kenya and the north eastern region of Kenya lately, due to the emergence of a new terrorist group in the region, Al – Shabaab. Terrorist activities have drastically changed the situation in the area, though not much of it has been documented. This study therefore aimed to determine the socio economic effects of terrorism in the north eastern region. The study was conducted in north eastern region of Kenya using mixed methodology design. Mainly secondary data was collected using print media reports about the various terrorism activities, newspapers and minimal discussion with people in the regions. The study found that terrorism activities have had major effects on the economic and social activities with a number of people closing their activities and transfer to other safer regions. A number of professionals have fled the area, leaving some of the basic activities almost deserted. The education and health sector have been the most affected as teachers and medical practitioners fled the region and left public schools and hospitals without professionals in the fields. The study recommends that local residents of the area should be encouraged to sensitize their children to study in the two professions so that in case professionals from other parts of Kenya flee the area, the locally trained professionals can effectively handle the matters.