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