Is counter-terrorism counterproductive? A case study of Kenya’s response to terrorism, 1998-2020

Abstract

Kenya is a victim of transnational terrorism. As a response, the government in Nairobi has adopted numerous measures including legislation, the establishment of security organs to police the menace, building a border wall between Kenya and Somalia, attempts to repeal the 2006 Refugee Act and close refugee camps, efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism, and community policing. However, in spite of these activities, acts of terror and violent extremism continue to pose a threat to Kenya's national security, which begs the question, 'Is counterterrorism as practised by Kenya counterproductive? The Critical Terrorism Studies (CTS) model guides this study. The analysis concludes that terrorism will remain a concern for Kenya as long as there is failure to appropriately calibrate its counter-terrorism strategy, and as long as regional sources of terrorism, such as instability in Somalia, remain unaddressed.

Human Security and Sustainable Development in East Africa

“…It also explains why Al Qaeda targeted Kenya in its 1998 bomb attack, which remains one of the deadliest terrorist bomb attacks on the African continent. Kenya has long been an ally of the United States on many matters including global counterterrorism (Kamau, 2021;Prestholdt, 2011). East Africa is also home to the only United Nations' main office outside North America and Europe.…”

Factors Influencing Disengagement from Violent Extremism A Case of Majengo-Pumwani Slum, Nairobi-Kenya

“…However, the group transformed into a terrorist organization by taking over the local Riyadha Mosque through one of its radical clerics by the name Iman Ali. Later in 2014, the followers of Iman Ali organized a deadly terror attack in Gikomba Market (Kamau, 2021) within the neighbourhood killing 10 people (BBC News, 2014).…”