Terror Activities and Evolution of Kenya’s Foreign Policy: 1998-2015

Abstract

Kenya has faced and continues to face terrorist attacks which have challenged the security apparatus. This study examines the evolving of Kenyan foreign policy in light of terror attacks between the periods of 1998 to 2015 where Kenya has faced increased and persistent terrorist attacks. The study was guided by three objectives which included: the critically analysis of terrorism vis a viz foreign policy, the evolving Kenya‘s foreign policy since the 1998 bombing and finally the evaluation of the relationship between security threats and foreign policy in Kenya. Secondary data was sourced mostly from newspaper due to the fact that certain foreign policies are publicly announced and terrorist‘s attacks are reported in the media and not documented in books. The study tested three hypotheses namely; Kenya‘s foreign policy continuing to be reactive rather than proactive, secondly, the systematic terror attacks playing a marginal role on Kenya‘s foreign policy and finally Kenya‘s foreign policy been influenced by her geostrategic position near the epicenter of terrorism extremism. The study found out that the Kenyan national foreign policy is largely state centric and reacts when situations and crisis arise. Secondly the study found out that the Kenyan foreign policy has been largely influenced and shaped by the recurring terrorist attacks thereby making Kenya‘s foreign policy to be dynamic. The study further found that there exists a nexus between foreign policy, terror attacks, refugee hosting and porous borders. The study therefore recommended a number of ways to help reduce the terrorists attacks.