Citizens’ Perceptions on the Effectiveness of Counter Terrorism Mechanisms Used by the Government: A Case of Northeastern Region, Kenya.

Abstract

Terrorism in Kenya in particular and the world in general has become a huge mysterious and unresolved phenomenon. It has given governments nightmares. It often shapes up and assumes the behavior of a chameleon and strikes from the least expected angle. Many people lost their lives here in Kenya and across the globe. A lot of resources and intelligence were applied by even the relatively most powerful nations in the world but could not eventually succeed. It is an emerging and evolving issue. Terrorists employ different strategies besides the traditional forms. For example on the Garrisa University attack during which 148 students were killed, Kenyan born nationals were used to carry out the attacks, one of the attackers being a law graduate from a local university. These new strategies increasingly show that terrorists are recruiting, training and executing attacks within Kenya mercilessly. In light of the above, this study was initiated to understand the various modalities the government uses to counter terrorism, seeks to review these strategies and suggest diversified, comprehensive, multidimensional and all-inclusive strategies of counter terrorism, in Kenya and the Horn of Africa. The study was carried out in the Northeastern counties of Mandera, Wajir and Garissa targeting 120 respondents. The respondents were randomly selected with adherence to the diversity in the population. The study found out that the strategies used by the government to combat terrorism is not effective and has not achieved its objectives. The government uses militaristic form which has made the residents not cooperate with the security apparatus. The research suggests that the government changes its tactics and makes it more participative and collaborative.