Combating Environmental Crimes in Africa Through Cyberspace Technology; a Case Study of Kenya

Abstract

The field of security in the last decades has undergone a number of paradigm shift in its key concerns from the conventional security issues to emerging contemporary areas such as cyber security, hybrid threats and terrorism, which are believed to be the definite ones. The latter emerged out of heightened interdependence between society and technology and the implications as well. Environmental crimes address activities oscillate from unreported fishing, illegal and dumping hazardous wastes, depletion of the ozone layer as well as illegal logging among others. The main aim of this study was to determine how cyber space technology is adding in combating environmental crimes in Africa with a specific reference to Kenya. The focus of the study will be based on three specific objectives namely; establish the concepts of cybercrime, globalization and environmental crimes, establish policies, measures and initiatives taken to combat wildlife trafficking at a regional and global level and to find out the challenges and efforts in combating environmental crimes through cyberspace technology in Kenya. Premised on the study’s nature, a significant portion of the research findings was acquired from systematic empirical literature review of agencies dealing with environmental crimes management, scholarly contributions on cyber space technology, cybercrimes and environmental crimes and other publications on the subject matter. The findings were complimented further by interview schedule among environmental crimes management stakeholders as well as experts on the rudiment of the study from policy and academic circles. Informed conclusions and inferences were also drawn. The study was informed by general deterrence theory in addressing the role of cyber space technology on environmental and cybercrimes management. The study noted that there is no single state institution tasked with the mandate of fighting environmental crimes in Kenya, but a number of institutions such as KWS, KFS, KEPHIS, NEMA, and NPS among others assist in combating various environmental crimes. However, to adequately address these environmental crimes, these aforementioned agencies should have an holistic and integrated intelligence network and policing agencies to apprehend and assist in the prosecution of offender. The study noted that there is no doubt that technology has changed the way wildlife trades are conducted. This includes the sale of apes, exotic birds, pangolin scales, rhino horns and ivory. Premised on the findings of this study, the study concludes that despite the growing awareness among policy makers and scholars on environmental crimes, the issue of managing environmental crimes fails to inspire the desired response from people, communities that enforce the law and governments because it is viewed as victimless. The study recommends that the process of formulating environmental crime laws should be all inclusive with wide consultation among stakeholders’ especially local communities. Additionally, environmental crime management should be highly prioritized by the government as effective environmental crime management is vital in the process of realizing Kenya’s Vision 2030. Finally, this study recommends the adoption forensic science by authorities tasked with environmental crimes management.