Counter-terrorism in Kenya

Abstract

The terrorist attacks of 7 August 1998 raised serious questions about transnational and domestic terrorism in Kenya and the Horn of Africa. What motivated terrorists to target Kenya? Why Kenya? Could these attacks have been stopped? How did Kenya and the international community respond to the attacks? Not only did the attacks target Western (US and Israel) interests but also Kenyan interests. Later Kenya was designated an ‘anchor state’ and ‘frontline’ in the ‘Global War on Terror’ (GWOT) President George Bush declared in response to the 11 September 2001 attacks in New York. This article critically examines the counter-terrorism (CT) measures that have been taken in Kenya in response to the attacks and threats made on the country. It describes the measures, attempts to explain the rationale and motivations behind them and to assess their effectiveness. It is argued that while these measures are aimed at addressing the perceived main causes of terrorism in Kenya, the assumptions upon which they are based are often flawed, do not have domestic support and are externally imposed, primarily by US, and hence are often criticised as a tool of US imperialism. Further, the price of these measures has been high in terms of the negation of the civil and human rights and freedoms.