The Impact of Coercive Measures on the Management of Transnational Terrorism in Kenya

Abstract

Kenya has been a target and continues to face significant threat of terrorist activities emanating from Al Shabaab, and Al Qaeda affiliated militant group in Somalia. This upsurge of violent terrorist attacks, both in frequency and scale, began with the Westgate Shopping Mall attack in Nairobi, followed by other large-scale attacks in other parts of the country including Mpeketoni, Mandera and Garissa specifically targeting Kenyans. Historically, terrorist attacks such as the bombings of Norfolk Hotel on 31st December 1980 and US Embassy on 7th August 1998, although targeting Kenyans were aimed at foreign targets especially American and Israel interests. However, recent terrorism incidences in the Country point at local participation and support by youth recruited into Al-Shabaab to carry out attacks in Kenya. This trend coincides with the emerging threat of homegrown operatives, including local Muslim youth from Islamic backgrounds as well as recent converts, recruited into and trained by the Al-Shabaab to carry out attacks in Somalia and within Kenya. This study therefore assesses the impact of Kenya’s counter terrorism laws, policies and practices on the spread of transnational terrorism, and establishes that there is urgent need for re-evaluation of counter terrorism measures applied by the government as they are counter-productive and create conditions conducive for the spread of terrorism in Kenya.