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Impact of Unemployment and Lack of Education in Kenya on Al-Shabab Recruitment Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2020 Impact of Unemployment and Lack of Education in Kenya on Al- Shabab Recruitment Michael Hernandez Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Public Administration Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Michael Hernandez has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Ian Cole, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Glenn Starks, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Lydia Forsythe, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2020 Abstract Impact of Unemployment and Lack of Education in Kenya on Al-Shabab Recruitment by Michael Hernandez MPA, American Public University System, 2012 BA, New Mexico State University, 2005 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University November 2020 Abstract Research on terrorism in Kenya often involved a separation of concepts contributing to the issue of terrorism. Researchers have focused on Al-Shabab and demonstrated that political and military instability directly resulted from terrorism; however, researchers have not yet been able to establish a link between unemployment and Al-Shabab recruitment. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to understand Al-Shabab recruitment among male Kenyan young adults between the ages of 18-35. This study used social constructive framework (SCF) as a conceptual point of theory to analyze Al- Shabab recruitment and why some Kenyan young adults do while others do not join the terrorist organization. The method used was qualitative narrative study which produced data acquired from participant interviews. The data accumulated from 30 participants’ explored the reasons given for contemplating Al-Shabab membership. The data were analyzed by sorting responses to each of the 27 questions asked. The results of this study found participants shared personal experiences that conceptualized unemployment as a result of low wages, lack of education, and Kenyan government fault. This study further found that participants considered the lack of policy enforcement by the Kenyan government as reason for feelings of disenfranchisement. Kenyans and the Kenyan government may benefit from the results of this study by invoking positive social change. Recommendations to policymakers for achieving social change included communicating the enforcement of policy throughout all levels of government, endorsing transition from vocational training to employment, and prioritizing security against Al-Shabab acts of terrorism after serving Kenyan interests. Impact of Unemployment and Lack of Education in Kenya on Al-Shabab Recruitment by Michael Hernandez MPA, American Public University System, 2012 BA, New Mexico State University, 2005 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University November 2020 Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................4 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................8 Purpose Statement ........................................................................................................10 Research Questions ......................................................................................................11 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................12 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................14 Definition of Terms......................................................................................................15 Assumptions .................................................................................................................17 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................18 Limitations ...................................................................................................................18 Significance..................................................................................................................21 Summary ......................................................................................................................22 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................24 Introduction ..................................................................................................................24 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................26 Theoretical Foundation ................................................................................................27 Literature Review.........................................................................................................30 Involvement Factors.............................................................................................. 30 i Religious Affliction and Persecution .................................................................... 34 Institutional Fragmentation ................................................................................... 38 Retaining Kenyan Young adultss.......................................................................... 42 Summary ......................................................................................................................45 Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................48 Introduction ..................................................................................................................48 Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................49 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................51 Methodology ................................................................................................................53 Participant Selection ............................................................................................. 53 Data Collection Process ...............................................................................................58 Data Analysis Process ..................................................................................................64 Coding ..........................................................................................................................65 Issues of Trustworthiness .............................................................................................66 Credibility ............................................................................................................. 66 Transferability ....................................................................................................... 67 Dependability ........................................................................................................ 68 Confirmability ....................................................................................................... 68 Intra-Rater Reliability ........................................................................................... 69 Ethical Procedures .......................................................................................................69 Agreement to Gain Access to Participant Consent ............................................... 70 Treatment of Human Participants ......................................................................... 70 ii Ethical Concerns to Recruitment .......................................................................... 72 Ethical Concerns to Data Collection ..................................................................... 72 Treatment of Data ................................................................................................. 72 Summary ......................................................................................................................73 Chapter 4: Results ..............................................................................................................75
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