The Impact of Terrorism in the Horn of Africa: the Case Study of Kenya

Abstract

This study set out to assess the impacts of terrorism in the Horn of Africa using Kenya as the case study. Kenya is one of the countries within the horn of Africa that has over the years has been considered as one of the most stable nations. However recent happenings have seen Kenya experience an increase in terrorism incidents within her soil. Few studies have been done to critically evaluate the impacts of terrorism in Kenya and the possible corrective measure that Kenya need to adopt in fighting this terrorism menace. This study set out to achieve these. The study is guided by three specific objectives; Evaluation of terrorism discourses, evaluation of international and regional efforts focused in combating terrorism within the African Horn and the evaluation of the causes, impacts of terrorism and the challenges of combating terrorism in Kenya. The study adopted a transnational conceptual framework approach in its analysis, making us of both primary and secondary data, primary data was sourced from book reviews, journals, internet sources, policy documents from the Kenyan ministries of foreign affairs. Secondary data was obtained via questioners distributed to respondents who included both university and college students, staff within the government ministries, National Police Service and various staff from the larger hospitality industries. As per the study finding it quite conclusive that terrorism within the horn of Africa has significantly impacted various sectors in Kenya. Terrorism in Kenya is real and it has negatively impacted the Kenyan society. The definition of terrorism has evolved over time but its political, religious and ideological goals have practically never changed. Terrorism in Kenya has resulted in security fears which in turn have resulted in a number of ripple effects cutting across various sectors within the Kenyan society, economic sectors, political sectors, health sector, education sectors, and infrastructural sectors among others. The main terrorist threat in Kenya is transnational emanating from the Al-shabaab Militia group with a home base in the neighbouring Somalia. Terrorism has perpetrated population displacement, Political dissents, economic challenges, religious conflict among other detrimental effects. 59.7% of the respondents indicated that they strongly agreed to the fact that terrorism had an impact in Kenya with regard to contributing towards population displacement and political/economic instability. 34.4% of the respondents indicated that they strongly agree that terrorism in Kenya impacts religious conflicts to a large extent. It is evident from the study that Kenya faces a number of challenges in its efforts in combating terrorism which is attributed to factors such as terrorist networks being more dispersed and less centralized, corrupt immigration officials and weak immigration/border laws, radicalization of the Kenyan youths based on some fanatical doctrines. Poorly equipped police force that again are not well trained, Poor planning and general lack of preparedness, the present day terrorist are well educated, highly sophisticated, leave among other Kenyan citizen thus making it difficult to uncover them posing a great challenge to the Kenyan security forces. This affirms to the adopted research hypothesis which states that the continuation of terror attacks in Kenya is largely as a result of weak institutional and policy responses The study recommends a number of opportunities that Kenya can embrace in it effort of combating terrorism, this includes adherence to immigration rules, enhanced structural chain of command within the security forces in Kenya, investment in efficient policing and equipment to help fight terror,CCTV installation and embrace of modern technology in the fight against terrorism. As a factor of future research, there is need to evaluate the significance of hosting refuges camp in Kenya, are they potential source of terror, what measures are in place to ensure the refugees are contained within their camps. There is also need to revaluate the extent of the youth radicalization, and the driving force that make the youth venerable, as it will provide a detailed insight that can be used in implementation of corrective measures to help combat terrorism