The military and emerging notion of security: an analysis of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), 1963-2010
Abstract
This research examines the relevance of the broad understanding of security to the Kenya defence forces. This broad understanding is informed by the concept of human security that places the welfare and dignity of the individual at the core. The broad objective of the study is to analyze how the KDF can be positioned through the legal, policy and institutional mechanism to enhance its capacity to mitigate threats associated with human security. The specific objectives 'of the study are one, to determine threats associated with human security which the KDF should mitigate. Secondly, to examine the capacity of the KDF to mitigate these threats and finally, to identify the legal, institutional and policy gaps that should be rectified so that the KDF can become a vehicle for security, peace and development. The research is guided by the conflict theory of human needs.
As a research tool, the theory helps in investigating how and in what manner the KDF can become more responsive to the socio - economic aspirations of Kenyans through an integrated security system that is able to identify areas of urgent intervention. The methodology of research used entails both primary and secondary data sources. The primary sources included both questionnaires and face to face interviews while simple random sampling was used to select categories from a list of target population. Analysis and review of books, journals and magazines formed the core of secondary data while the raw data,was analyzed in numerical and descriptive perspectives.
In this regard, the key findings of the research are that the mandate of the KDF in the prism of the emerging notion of security is broad. Secondly, the role of the KDF as enunciated in law is the defence and protection of sovereignty and territorial sovereignty of the republic, disaster management and response and internal security operations to restore peace and stability in any part of Kenya but the general perception by the public is that the KDF has failed to effectively live up to this mandate. Thirdly, the KDF's efforts in civic duties and humanitarian action such as building infrastructure in economically deprived regions of the country has been hampered by policy, legal and institutional' setbacks which requires urgent responses to make the military institution relevant to the society.
Publisher
University of Nairobi, Kenya