Military Involvement in Internal Security Operation: an Assesment of the Kenya Defence Forces in Terrorism Operations in Kenya From 2000-2021

Abstract

Kenya has been faced with a mounting security threat primarily from terrorism orchestrated by the Al-Shabaab terror organisation. The research focused on military involvement in internal security operation focusing on assessing the Kenya Defence Forces in terrorism operations in kenya from 2000-2021. The research objectives was to determine the scope of military roles in internal security, explore the strategies the KDF can apply when involved internal security and examine the challenges the KDF could face in internal security operation. Qualitative research methodology was usedrelying heavily on secondary datafor content analysis. Data was obtained from several secondary sources which included information from official documents within the areas that constitute the key elements of the current study including at the global, regional, and national levels, with Kenya as the as the case study. The study‘s findings revealed the need to intensify multi-agency collaboration involving the NPS and the KDF in combating terrorism. The government needs to prioritise addressing the innate challenges like poor working conditions and remuneration for the police, in addition to endemic corruption. Continued investment in multi-agency cooperation and leveraging intelligence as opposed to always reacting to attacks. The study therefore recommends that, that the government should champion the development of high-level multi-agency cooperation and collaboration among these agencies, improving the working conditions and remuneration to the police and other security agencies, prioritise equipping the security agencies especially the KDFand prioritise intelligence.