Counter Terrorism Strategies in Africa: a Case Study of the Media in Kenya

Abstract

This study assesses the efficacy of counterterrorism strategies in Africa utilizing the role of media in counter-terrorism in Kenya as case study. The study investigates the efficacy of the counter-terrorism strategies in place and suggests a feasible approach that includes pertinent stakeholders, especially bringing the media on board as a fundamental stakeholder. This research uses Media-Oxygen of Publicity thesis as a tool to explain and understand the dynamics of international terrorism. The research agrees with the hypotheses that: Counter terrorism strategies in Africa have ignored the media’s potency on combating terrorism. Apparently, there is a positive correlation between increasing terrorism activities in Kenya and the media coverage of terrorism, hence incorporation of the media in counter terrorism strategies could greatly contribute to reducing international terrorism. The findings indicate that Kenya’s counterterrorism strategy remain inadequate in addressing preventive terrorism measures, especially in strengthening collaborations between the government and the media to counter extremism and radicalization as well as underlying root causes of terrorism. The analysis points out that State centric counterterrorism measures in Africa is counter-productive. The study recommends counterterrorism strategies which incorporate the media. This is informed by the fact that the primary objective of terrorism is to publicize their cause and the media is the medium used, meaning that for terrorists to succeed in reaching a wider society, they require the media. The media, which incorporates the mass media and social media, has powerful influence on the impact of terror activities. Given that publicity is pivotal for terrorists to advance their cause, working with the media in the counter terrorism campaign is apparently the most plausible approach.