DOCSLIB.ORG

Challenges of Combating Homegrown Terrorism in Kenya: a Youth Radicalization Perspective Alice Mary Wamuyu Kariuki Walden University

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Challenges of Combating Homegrown Terrorism in Kenya: a Youth Radicalization Perspective Alice Mary Wamuyu Kariuki Walden University Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2019 Challenges of Combating Homegrown Terrorism in Kenya: A Youth Radicalization Perspective Alice Mary Wamuyu Kariuki Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences 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 Alice Mary Wamuyu Kariuki 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. Michael Knight, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Lisa Saye, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Patricia Ripoll, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty The Office of the Provost Walden University 2019 Abstract Challenges of Combating Homegrown Terrorism in Kenya: A Youth Radicalization Perspective by Alice Mary Wamuyu Kariuki MSc, University of Leicester, United Kingdom, 2000 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University November, 2019 Abstract Radicalization and recruitment of young Kenyan males into homegrown terrorism has persisted since November 2011 following the decision by the government to send Kenya Defense Forces to fight al Shabaab terrorist groups in Somalia. Using Schneider and Ingram’s conceptualization of social construction of target populations as a guide, the purpose of this multicase study was to explore the motivation of young Kenyan males in accepting radicalization and recruitment into homegrown terrorism and their interpretations, feelings, and perceptions of the policies and strategies in place to empower them. Using a purposeful sampling with a maximum variation strategy, data were collected through interviews with 34 young Kenyan males, 4 of whom were connected to 4 terrorism incidents in Kenya since 2011. Additional data were collected through publicly available data and policy statements. All data were inductively coded and subjected to a thematic analysis procedure and cross-case analysis. Findings indicated that young Kenyan males are enticed with financial offers by al Shabaab, and faced social problems that needed solutions, and participants believe the government of Kenya should better protect them from al Shabaab maneuvers. Implications for social change include recommendations for reform of youth policies and programs by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, and implementation of the recommendations of this study so that youth can be properly engaged in nation-building activities. Challenges of Combating Homegrown Terrorism in Kenya: A Youth Radicalization Perspective by Alice Mary Wamuyu Kariuki MSc, University of Leicester, United Kingdom, 2000 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University August 2019 Dedication To my dear departed father, Joram Wambiro, who wished that I pursue my education to the highest level: To my dear husband, Humphrey Kariuki: To my dear mother, Grace Nduta Wambiro, to our dear sons, daughters, and grandchildren: And to the youth of Kenya. Acknowledgments I thank God Almighty, our Heavenly Father for inspiring me to dare toward this journey and for walking with me throughout. I would like to extend special thanks to my committee chair Dr. Michael Knight for his mentorship, support, encouragement, and understanding during this research journey. I also wish to sincerely thank my dissertation committee member Dr. Lisa Saye for comments on my dissertation that helped me rethink my options on certain aspects. To Dr. Patricia Ripoll my UUR, my special gratitude for your feedback that provoked my thoughts and guided me to relook into my dissertation and reconstruct various portions thereby ensuring rigor and quality of the dissertation. I would like to appreciate my whole family, in particular Humphrey Kariuki, my husband, for believing in me and supporting me to meet my financial obligations for my study including accompanying me to study residencies; my dear mother Grace Nduta Wambiro for all her prayers and supplications to God for my success in this journey; our son Michael Angelo Waitathu for buying all the books that I needed for this study; and all our sons, daughters, and grandchildren for their patience and understanding throughout this journey. Thank you for being there for me. I acknowledge all assistance accorded me by the Kenyan government security agencies, in particular the Director of Criminal Investigation and the Commissioner General of Kenya Prisons Service for allowing me access to the respective research sites and for all other assistance accorded me. I extend my special appreciation to the Vice Chancellor of the University that I chose as my research site for allowing me access to the institution for my research, and all staff who supported me. I also would like to thank most sincerely Mrs. Mary Wainaina the Director of the Institute of Professional Counseling for allowing me a serene office space in her organization for conducting interviews with my research participants. Thank you, madam for your big heart. Finally, I wish to thank all my research participants for their acceptance to partner with me in this study and for their time. Without your participation, the study would never have been. So thank you very much. Table of Contents List of Tables .............................................................................................................. vii List of Figures............................................................................................................ viii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study .............................................................................. 1 Background ............................................................................................................. 1 Problem Statement .................................................................................................. 7 Purpose of the Study................................................................................................ 9 Research Questions ............................................................................................... 10 Theoretical Framework.......................................................................................... 11 Nature of the Study ............................................................................................... 12 Operational Definitions of Key Terms.................................................................... 14 Assumptions ......................................................................................................... 15 Scope and Delimitations of the Study ..................................................................... 15 Limitations ............................................................................................................ 16 Significance of the Study ....................................................................................... 17 Summary and Transition........................................................................................ 18 Chapter 2: Literature Review ....................................................................................... 19 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 19 Literature Search Strategy...................................................................................... 20 The Problem of Radicalization of Young Kenyan Males ......................................... 20 Theoretical Basis of the Study ............................................................................... 22 Theoretical Framework.......................................................................................... 23 i Overview......................................................................................................... 23 Social Construction of Target Populations Theory ............................................ 24 Overview of Literature Review .............................................................................. 27 Radicalization and the Poverty Narrative................................................................ 29 Radicalization and the Narrative of High Unemployment Rates Among Youth........ 29 Radicalization and the Marginalization Narrative ................................................... 30 Radicalization and the Narrative of Political and Socioeconomic Alienation ........... 32 Radicalization and the Narrative of Corrupt and Inefficient Security Officers .......... 32 Radicalization and the Narrative of Porous Borders and the Influx of Refugees ....... 33 Radicalization and the Narrative of Islamic Extremism ........................................... 33 Radicalization and the Revenge Narrative .............................................................. 35 Radicalization
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Mwazighe, Charles Lenjo Title Legal Responses to Terrorism: Case Study of the Republic of Kenya Publisher Monterey, Ca
    Author(s) Mwazighe, Charles Lenjo Title Legal responses to terrorism: case study of the Republic of Kenya Publisher Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School Issue Date 2012-12 URL http://hdl.handle.net/10945/27876 This document was downloaded on October 10, 2013 at 15:48:27 NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS LEGAL RESPONSES TO TERRORISM: CASE STUDY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA by Charles Lenjo Mwazighe December 2012 Thesis Co-Advisors: Thomas C. Bruneau Carolyn C. Halladay Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED December 2012 Master’s Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS LEGAL RESPONSES TO TERRORISM: CASE STUDY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA 6. AUTHOR(S) Charles Lenjo Mwazighe 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION Naval Postgraduate School REPORT NUMBER Monterey, CA 93943-5000 9.
    [Show full text]
  • Kenya Decision Against Al-Shabaab in Somalia
    KENYA DECISION AGAINST AL-SHABAAB IN SOMALIA Lt Col A.M. Gitonga JCSP 42 PCEMI 42 Exercise Solo Flight Exercice Solo Flight Disclaimer Avertissement Opinions expressed remain those of the author and Les opinons exprimées n’engagent que leurs auteurs do not represent Department of National Defence or et ne reflètent aucunement des politiques du Canadian Forces policy. This paper may not be used Ministère de la Défense nationale ou des Forces without written permission. canadiennes. Ce papier ne peut être reproduit sans autorisation écrite. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as © Sa Majesté la Reine du Chef du Canada, représentée par represented by the Minister of National Defence, 2016. le ministre de la Défense nationale, 2016. CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE – COLLÈGE DES FORCES CANADIENNES JCSP 42 – PCEMI 42 2015 – 2016 EXERCISE SOLO FLIGHT – EXERCICE SOLO FLIGHT KENYA DECISION AGAINST AL-SHABAAB IN SOMALIA Lt Col A.M. Gitonga “This paper was written by a student “La présente étude a été rédigée par un attending the Canadian Forces College stagiaire du Collège des Forces in fulfilment of one of the requirements canadiennes pour satisfaire à l'une des of the Course of Studies. The paper is a exigences du cours. L'étude est un scholastic document, and thus contains document qui se rapporte au cours et facts and opinions, which the author contient donc des faits et des opinions alone considered appropriate and que seul l'auteur considère appropriés et correct for the subject. It does not convenables au sujet. Elle ne reflète pas necessarily reflect the policy or the nécessairement la politique ou l'opinion opinion of any agency, including the d'un organisme quelconque, y compris le Government of Canada and the gouvernement du Canada et le ministère Canadian Department of National de la Défense nationale du Canada.
    [Show full text]
  • Slum Profiles | Pumwani Division EASTLEIGH NORTH
    110 | Slum Profiles | Pumwani Division EASTLEIGH NORTH BAHATI EASTLEIGH SOUTH PUMWANI KAMUKUNJI Nairobi Inventory | 111 The last eviction threat was by Chief Githinji in 1990 but thereafter the residents petitioned the Nairobi City Council and got allotment let- ters for plots of 25 by 60 sq. feet each. However, the allocation process left out some residents who have resorted to designated social spaces, paths and the riparian reserves. The settlement occupies 30 acres of govern- ment land registered as Plot No. LR 16667 and extends into the riparian reserve of Nairobi Riv- er. The population is estimated at about 6000. There are 702 households with an average occu- pancy of 8 persons per household, with children making 75% of the population. There are a total of 702 residential structures, with about 3600 rooms measuring 10 square feet in size and mostly constructed using iron sheets. A few mud and stone structures are coming up, especially after the City Council subdivided the land and issued allotment let- ter to the residents. 112 | Slum Profiles | Pumwani Division Rental rates range from Kshs. 500 to 1200 per room depending on the construction materials used. • There are only two piped water points in the • Residents rely on Bahati, Jericho and Jeru- settlement owned by the Nairobi Water Com- salem Health Centres for outpatient services pany, and the residents are in negotiation with and private clinics for emergency medical con- the company on terms of supply and manage- cerns. Common ailments include malaria, ty- ment. phoid, TB, HIV/AIDS and related opportunistic infections. • The settlement has one latrine built with the assistance from the Undugu Society.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing the Vulnerability of Kenyan Youths to Radicalisation and Extremism
    Institute for Security Studies PAPER Assessing the vulnerability of Kenyan youths to radicalisation and extremism INTRODUCTION country is also central to the region and thus deserves That there is an emerging trend of religious radicalisation in closer scrutiny. Although Kenya’s intervention in Somalia East Africa is not in doubt. Somalia, which has experienced served to incite a terrorist response, the experience of various forms of conflict since 1991, has often been seen Uganda, Ethiopia and Burundi, all of which have had troops as the source of extremism in the region, especially in Somalia since 2006, showed different trends. Only the following the attacks on the United States (US) embassies attacks in Uganda and Kenya were attributed to those in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi on 7 August 1998. Yet closer countries’ interventions in Somalia. And, despite the fact investigation reveals that Somali nationals were not behind that those directly involved in these attacks were Ugandan most of the incidents outside Somalia’s borders. Somalia nationals, Kenyans and Tanzanians helped plan and provides a safe haven, training camps and opportunities for execute the attacks, not members of traditional extremists to fight the ‘enemies of Islam’, but al-Qaeda and Somali communities. later al-Shabaab have executed attacks in the region by This is not to say that individuals within the traditional relying on local assistance and support. At the same time, Muslim community have not used frustrations and al-Shabaab managed to recruit Kenyan, Ugandan and vulnerabilities among the youth – Muslim and non-Muslim Tanzanian nationals to its ranks in Somalia.
    [Show full text]
  • Domestic Terrorism in Africa
    DOMESTIC TERRORISM IN AFRICA: DOMESTIC TERRORISM IN AFRICA: DEFINING, ADDRESSING AND UNDERSTANDING ITS IMPACT ON HUMAN SECURITY DEFINING, ADDRESSING AND UNDERSTANDING ITS IMPACT ON HUMAN SECURITY Terrorism Studies & Research Program ISS Head Offi ce Block D, Brooklyn Court, VealVeale Street New Muckleneuk,, PrPretoria Tel: (27-12) 346 9500 Fax:Fa (27-12) 346 9570 E-mail: iss@[email protected] ISS AdAddis Ababa Offi ce FirsFirst Floor, Ki-Ab Building, Alexander Pushkin Street, Pushkin Square, Addis Ababa Tell:(: (251-1111)3) 37272-1154/5/6 Fax:(: (251-1111)3) 372 5954 E-mail: addisababa@is@ safrica.orgg ISS Cape Town Offi ce 67 Roeland Square, Drury Lane Gardens Cape Town 8001 South Africa TTel:(: (27-27 21) 46171 7211 Fax: (27-2121)4) 461 7213 E-mail: [email protected] ISS Nairobi Offi ce 5h5th Flloooor, LanddmarkPk Pllaza Argwings Kodhekek RRoad, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254 -20) 300 5726/8 FaxFax: (254-20) 271 2902 E-mail: [email protected] ISS Pretoria Offi ce Block C, Brooklyn Court, Veale Street New Muckleneuk, Pretoria Tel: (27-12) 346 9500 Fax: (27-12) 460 0998 Edited by Wafula Okumu and Anneli Botha E-mail: [email protected] Wafula Okumu and Anneli Botha www.issafrica.org 5 and 6 November 2007 This publication was made possible through funding provided by the ISBN 978-1-920114-80-0 Norwegian Government. In addition, general Institute funding is provided by the Governments of Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. 9 781920 114800 Terrorism Studies & Research Program As a leading African human security research institution, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) works towards a stable and peaceful Africa characterised by sustainable development, human rights, the rule of law, democracy, collaborative security and gender mainstreaming.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • The Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding
    The Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Research Paper No. 15 Philosophizing Alternative Pan-African Media and Society Approaches to Countering Female Violent Extremism in Kenya for Peace and Security By Fredrick Ogenga, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar December 2016 hile women are increasingly playing key roles in terrorist and violent extremist groups in some parts of Africa, little research has been done to highlight the link between women and terrorism. This is true of W Kenya, where research has been lacking despite increasing concerns about attacks involving women. For example, a review of two mainstream Kenyan newspapers, The Daily Nation and The Standard, highlights several incidents of female involvement in extremism in the country between 2011 and 2016. It is suspected that women are actively playing a role behind the scenes in support of terror activities in Kenya. It appears that most of the women are indirectly involved in terrorism, mainly through their relationships with extremists. The most prominent examples of this are at least nine reported cases of “jihadi brides” or “al- Shabaab brides.” These are women who are typically radicalized through marriage. There is also at least one recent instance of women fighting on the frontline, the case of three women who attacked a police station in Mombasa on September 11, 2016. The potential threat posed by female violent extremism is very real: Al- Shabaab has already wreaked havoc in Kenya, claiming responsibility for many large-scale attacks over the last few years. This suggests attacks could worsen if female radicalization becomes widespread, as women can “fly under the radar of gender-blind security forces.”1 The Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding (SVNP) is a continent-wide network of African policy and research organizations that works with the Africa Program to bring African analyses and perspectives to key issues in U.S.-Africa relations.
    [Show full text]
  • County Integrated Development Plan (Cidp) 2018-2022
    COUNTY INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLAN (CIDP) 2018-2022 WORKING DRAFT NOVEMBER, 2017 Nairobi County Integrated Development Plan, 2018 Page ii COUNTY VISION AND MISSION VISION “The city of choice to Invest, Work and live in” MISSION To provide affordable, accessible and sustainable quality service, enhancing community participation and creating a secure climate for political, social and economic development through the commitment of a motivated and dedicated team. Nairobi County Integrated Development Plan, 2018 Page iii Nairobi County Integrated Development Plan, 2018 Page iv FOREWORD Nairobi County Integrated Development Plan, 2018 Page v Nairobi County Integrated Development Plan, 2018 Page vi TABLE OF CONTENTS COUNTY VISION AND MISSION ............................................................................................. iii FOREWORD .................................................................................................................................. v LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... xiii LIST OF MAPS/FIGURES ......................................................................................................... xiii LIST OF PLATES ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .................................................................................... xiv GLOSSARY OF COMMONLY USED TERMS .....................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring the Spatial Distribution of PLWA in Nairobi City
    Exploring the Spatial Distribution of PLWA in Nairobi City Moses Murimi NGIGI ナイロビにおける PLWA の空間的分布 ギギ、モセス・ムリミ Abstract 発展途上国においては，都市の急激な成長によりインフラ整備や人口増加率，貧困層の分布， 環境の悪化など，様々な社会的格差が発生しており，HIV/AIDS の流行が空間的に極めて不均 一となることが懸念されている．本研究は，エイズと共存する人々（PLWA）に対する調査により， ナイロビにおけるエイズの流行の空間的な特性を示すものである．PLWA の分布とナイロビ住民 の人口密度や社会・経済的属性との関係を，GIS を用いて分析した．その結果，ナイロビの複雑 な都市構造が明示された．また，人口密度の高い地域では，PLWA が多くなる傾向にあることが 明らかとなった．ただし，GIS を援用した分析だけではエイズの空間的分布の特性とナイロビ住民 の社会・経済的属性との関係を明確にできず，さらなる調査方法の検討が必要である． Keywords: HIV/AIDS (エイズ), PLWA (HIV/AIDS 感染者), spatial distribution characteristics （空間的分布の特性), Nairobi city (ナイロビ） 1. Introduction whose objective was to identify the spatial characteristic of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the city of Nairobi. Using Emphasis on regional and national differentials in the visualization strength of geographic information prevalence of HIV often conceals substantial systems (GIS), the residential distribution pattern of the within-country variation in the burden of the AIDS PLWA is analysed against the density and epidemic (Zulu, E.M et al. 2004). Surveillance data socio-economic profile of the city’s population. from variety of sources has shown that urban areas have higher HIV prevalence rates than rural areas. HIV sentinel surveillance in Kenya has also shown the prevalence to be higher in the urban areas as compared to the rural (see Figure 1). In 2004, HIV surveillance results for Nairobi city, also an administrative province, were second after Nyanza, among the eight administrative provinces of Kenya. It was also estimated that about 40% of the urban adult population infected with HIV/AIDS in Kenya resided in Nairobi. Nairobi, similar in characteristic to other African cities; high population growth rate, high unemployment levels, urban poverty, high population densities, and heterogeneous population from different cultural backgrounds present a scenario where the HIV/AIDS pandemic can vary in many ways.
    [Show full text]
  • Al-Shabaab and Political Volatility in Kenya
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by IDS OpenDocs EVIDENCE REPORT No 130 IDSAddressing and Mitigating Violence Tangled Ties: Al-Shabaab and Political Volatility in Kenya Jeremy Lind, Patrick Mutahi and Marjoke Oosterom April 2015 The IDS programme on Strengthening Evidence-based Policy works across seven key themes. Each theme works with partner institutions to co-construct policy-relevant knowledge and engage in policy-influencing processes. This material has been developed under the Addressing and Mitigating Violence theme. The material has been funded by UK aid from the UK Government, however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK Government’s official policies. AG Level 2 Output ID: 74 TANGLED TIES: AL-SHABAAB AND POLITICAL VOLATILITY IN KENYA Jeremy Lind, Patrick Mutahi and Marjoke Oosterom April 2015 This is an Open Access publication distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are clearly credited. First published by the Institute of Development Studies in April 2015 © Institute of Development Studies 2015 IDS is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (No. 877338). Contents Abbreviations 2 Acknowledgements 3 Executive summary 4 1 Introduction 6 2 Seeing like a state: review of Kenya’s relations with Somalia and its Somali population 8 2.1 The North Eastern Province 8 2.2 Eastleigh 10 2.3
    [Show full text]
  • An African Case of Societal Securitization a Thesis Presented To
    A Tale of Two ‘Kenyas’: An African Case of Societal Securitization A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts Matthew B. Saintsing December 2015 © 2015 Matthew B.Saintsing. All Rights Reserved. 2 This thesis titled A Tale of Two ‘Kenyas’: An African Case of Societal Securitization by MATTHEW B. SAINTSING has been approved for the Department of Political Science and the College of Arts and Sciences Brandon Kendhammer Assistant Professor of Political Science Robert Frank Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 3 ABSTRACT SAINTSING, MATTHEW B., M.A., December 2015, Political Science A Tale of Two ‘Kenyas’: An African Case of Societal Securitization Director of Thesis: Brandon Kendhammer Coastal Kenya has been subjected to terror attacks with alarming frequency, and an active insurgency is on the rise. Dwindling security threatens the stability of Kenya, with the coast being imperative for tourism revenue. It is vital that the Kenyan government acts to provide security. This thesis explores why the government of Kenya chooses to engage in ethnic profiling of Somalis, instead of engaging the true causes of insecurity. Securitization theory provides the framework to understand the motivations of Kenyan security policies. This thesis argues that Kenyan authorities seek to securitize Kenyan society by scapegoating marginalized Somalis and Muslims. To gain a full picture of security, 25 semi-structured interviews were collected in Malindi, Kenya in June 2014. Kenyan citizens recognize that the government in Nairobi ought to provide security for all citizens.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 5: Nairobi and Its Environment
    145 “Cities can achieve more sustainable land use if municipalities combine urban planning and development with environmental management” -Ann Tibaijuki Executive Director UN-HABITAT Director General UNON 2007 (Tibaijuki 2007) Chapter 5: Nairobi and its Environment airobi’s name comes from the Maasai phrase “enkare nairobi” which means “a place of cool waters”. It originated as the headquarters of the Kenya Uganda Railway, established when the Nrailhead reached Nairobi in June 1899. The city grew into British East Africa’s commercial and business hub and by 1907 became the capital of Kenya (Mitullah 2003, Rakodi 1997). Nairobi, A Burgeoning City Nairobi occupies an area of about 700 km2 at the south-eastern end of Kenya’s agricultural heartland. At 1 600 to 1 850 m above sea level, it enjoys tolerable temperatures year round (CBS 2001, Mitullah 2003). The western part of the city is the highest, with a rugged topography, while the eastern side is lower and generally fl at. The Nairobi, Ngong, and Mathare rivers traverse numerous neighbourhoods and the indigenous Karura forest still spreads over parts of northern Nairobi. The Ngong hills are close by in the west, Mount Kenya rises further away in the north, and Mount Kilimanjaro emerges from the plains in Tanzania to the south-east. Minor earthquakes and tremors occasionally shake the city since Nairobi sits next to the Rift Valley, which is still being created as tectonic plates move apart. ¯ ,JBNCV 5IJLB /BJSPCJ3JWFS .BUIBSF3JWFS /BJSPCJ3JWFS /BJSPCJ /HPOH3JWFS .PUPJOF3JWFS %BN /BJSPCJ%JTUSJDUT /BJSPCJ8FTU Kenyatta International /BJSPCJ/BUJPOBM /BJSPCJ/PSUI 1BSL Conference Centre /BJSPCJ&BTU The Kenyatta International /BJSPCJ%JWJTJPOT Conference Centre, located in the ,BTBSBOJ 1VNXBOJ ,BKJBEP .BDIBLPT &NCBLBTJ .BLBEBSB heart of Nairobi's Central Business 8FTUMBOET %BHPSFUUJ 0510 District, has a 33-story tower and KNBS 2008 $FOUSBM/BJSPCJ ,JCFSB Kilometres a large amphitheater built in the Figure 1: Nairobi’s three districts and eight divisions shape of a traditional African hut.
    [Show full text]