Relationship between governance and the rise of homegrown terrorism along the Kenyan Coastal region
Chris Kinyanjui Kamau
Mount Kenya University
Dr. Wilson Kiprono
Mount Kenya University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1234/ijster.v4iIII.54
Keywords: Governance; Security; homegrown terrorism; threats; radicalization
Abstract
National governance and corruption has for long been blamed on the rising cases of homegrown terrorism worldwide. Specifically in Kenya, the Kenyan Coast has for long been viewed as a fertile ground for radicalization of youths into terror activities. This has created a hostile environment between the government of the day and the leadership of the coastal Kenya communities largely due to perceived target of the Kenyan Muslim communities in the war against terrorism. This research seeks to challenge these notions and the limited focus on governance and corruption as key drivers of homegrown terrorism in these communities by attempting to portray a more complex reality of mixed governance performance, poverty, extremist religious teachings as well as education. The research is based on analysis of literature from the academia, civil societies and other organizations, government reports as well as the United Nations Reports on security and terror threats. The paper suggest that the undue emphasis on narrow legalism has obscured more subtle yet costly manifestations of misgovernance, religion, corruption, poverty as well as extreme religious teachings.
Author Biographies
Chris Kinyanjui Kamau, Mount Kenya University
Institute of Security studies, Justice & Ethics, Mount Kenya University
Dr. Wilson Kiprono, Mount Kenya University
Institute of Security studies, Justice & Ethics, Mount Kenya University
