Kenya’s Responses to Terrorism

Abstract

This research is a study of how a particular state reacts to terrorism and how this impacts on the escalation or de-escalation of the threat. Kenya has had a forty-year relationship with transnational terrorism. Over the years, different strategies have been adopted based on how the threat has been viewed. For instance, prior to Kenya’s incursion into Somalia, transnational terrorism was viewed as a threat targeting Western interests with Kenya being an easy accessible target. Hence, the strategies adopted were largely driven by the targeted Western state. However, following the incursion, Kenya became a target by its own right as Al Shabaab terror group issued a fatwa against Kenya. Consequently, the strategies adopted were driven by Kenya’s agenda to safeguard itself from further attacks. However, the threat continues.