Kenya National Security Strategy

Kenya National Security dodgingFrom colonial seasons to represent day Executive SummaryAfter Kenyas indep conclusionence, Somalia was a big surety holy terrors. After the death chair of Somalia, Siad Barre, was oerthrown, Somali citizens fled their unstable country and entered Kenya. This affected Kenyas subject area security. Jihadist militant group, Al Shabaab, rule Somalia, and with the arrival of refugees, it made it easier for terrorism to cross the b coordinates from Somalia to Kenya.Small arms and light weapons proliferation is currently virtuoso of the most crucial outside(a) as wholesome as internal security threat Kenya faces today. The universe of discourse of cultural groups and conflicts spilling over across the border to Somalia as well as the constant flow of refugees, makes proliferation of fiddling arms easier.Health insecurity is a major challenge for Kenyan people as well as the scotch development of the country. Health and the countrys economy are positively correlated therefrom nonpareil directly affects the other.Piracy incidents control become more frequent in todays world. Somali pirates affect craft that is taking place in that region which indirectly affects the economy of Kenya.Inter depicted object intervention failed to bring mollification to Somalia. Terrorism arises from such instability affecting Kenyas national security. Joining with global help Kenya wishes to attain semipolitical stability in the region.IntroductionThis briefing paper examines Kenyas security strategy in terms of external and internal threats. It will analyse why Kenya has taken specific measures to tackle threats and challenges from Kenyas colonial period to present day.In terms of geopolitical factors, the Nile was and is a very important river. Britain wanted to capture and find the Nile in the 1800s, in order to increase trade. Additionally, they wanted to have control over Egypt, by capturing the source of the Nile, which helped amaze the country and then move on to control the Suez Canal. By doing so, the British would have full control over trade in the Middle East with Europe. Kenya was colonized from 1885 until 1964, when it gained its independence.Post-Independence Regional InfluenceThe first decennary after Kenya gained its independence, Somalia posed one of the biggest security threats. In 1992, after the overthrow of Siad Barre, the president of Somalia at the time, Somali refugees found shelter in Kenya as their country was a very unstable state, and this quickly started impacting Kenyas national security. Somalia was then ruled by jihadist militant group, Al Shabaab, and through the influx of refugees, it allowed terrorism to cross borders to Kenya with kidnappings and hijackings change magnitude rapidly. Terrorism is motionlessness one the most challenging and serious threats Kenya faces today.Another neighbouring country that posed a threat to Kenya was Uganda, in terms of external security. The rise of Idi Amin ca utilize tensions between the two states, as the Ugandan president claimed a part of Kenya. To respond to this threat, Kenya improved its air force and build a stronger army in terms of number of soldiers enrolled. The tension between these two nations was a wide challenge for Kenya and a threat it faced and tranquillise is today with the proliferation of small arms and the instability of a bordering country.Adding to that, South Sudan poses a great threat to Kenyas national security. In 2011, South Sudan, gained its independence, attention was brought to the Elemi triangle and countries in that region. This challenge was dealt with through peace talks to come to a common resolution in a diplomatic and genteel manner, however, it could still pose a threat to regional security and impacting Kenya in the future, as different nations have different interests. Furthermore, internal conflicts in South Sudan also threaten Kenyas national security, as they could spill over and start spreading in other nations which would destabilize the region and its security.Post-Independence Social and Political SecurityIn terms of social security Kenya, since independence, has faced problems with ethnicity influencing internal politics thus affecting the nations national security. These ethnic groups which antedate to a split nation have existed since Kenyas colonial era to post-colonial and even today hang in an imminent threat to the security of the country. Kenya understood this challenge, thus included in its constitution, that the government should have a legal requirement in appointing a leader that will reflect and support ethnic vicissitude and not favour certain ethnic groups.Distinction was made between ethnic groups based on the land they owned, however this lead to ethnic conflicts for land ownership between different groups. Another diversity that divided these ethnic groups was language which encouraged strong ethnic identities tryin g to prevail and ending up in conflicts. Adding to that, the effect that ethnicity had on Kenya, is that it divided the country into 42 different tribes which intensified internal ethnic conflicts that posed a security threat to Kenya before and even after independence and affect Kenyas economic development agenda.In terms of political security, Kenya was influenced largely from its colonizers. The structure that they adopted into their political system was created by the British who colonized Kenya. However, the diversity of ethnic groups was embedded into politics with culture violence being the alone tool Kenyans utilise to achieve their aim. There was no trust between different ethnic groups and thus leading to a more polarized political system with the risk of increasing cultural violence to melt issues.Ethnic groups formed their own political parties to establish power to their own people. This lead to election violence, which is still one of the most important internal sec urity challenged the nation faces today. Kenyas political system was and is still is divided between these ethnic groups which could potentially lead Kenya into a civil war which could simply be used as a political statement. After Kenya gained its independence the government of Kenya tried uniting the nation into opinion as a superstar instead of being segregated into the 42 ethnic groups and tribes, hoping to put an end to political rivalry and focus on issues such as pauperisation and health security as one nation. Policies were formulated to achieve regional stability as well as continental unity to depolarize the world from the two superpowers at the time (USA vs. USSR). Kenya was always a neutral country during the time period 1960-1970 as it had a vision of a united Africa.The second decade after Kenya gained its independence, Somalia still posed a threat to the nation, as it continued receiving support from the Soviet Union. The end of the Cold state of war had a negativ e impact on Kenya as the US tried promoting democracy which led to a negative response by some Kenyan ethnic groups. These rallies that took place to promote democracy, often resulted in violence.Economic Development To obtain economic security Kenya has to ensure that it has financial stability, access to resources and that its citizens have fitted income. However, Kenya still suffers from high levels of unemployment, exiguity, and segregation of different income classes. In terms of economic dominance, Kenya has seen its industries grow and help pay some of the projects Kenya envisioned in the Vision 2030, an ambitious plan Kenya wanted to implement by the course of study of 2030.The division of people in terms of wealth is very visible in Kenya. Poverty is at high rates which leads to unstable settlements and the rise of criminal behaviour, as people have to compete with severally other for basic resources such as food and water. Reasons why the nation has failed to implement policies to reduce poverty and the wealth gap is poor budgeting and overestimating the nations capabilities. There is a lack of appropriate policy frameworks and personnel to book out these policies.Kenya in recent times, has discovered oil, gas and other mineral resources which could potentially lead to an reaping in the countrys economic development. Kenya has responded to these opportunities in a diplomatic and business like manner, already singing contracts with international oil companies for the exploration of its oil as well as training its own people in handling and exploring these sources themselves. However this puts Kenya in a difficult spot as the instability of its region could lead to radicalized groups wanting control of Kenyas oil. The nation wishes to create strategic and business relationships with big international companies in order to avoid these sources falling in the wrong hands.Internal Security Today Politicalsecurity and regional stabilityIn terms of po litical security, with 42 different ethnic groups present in Kenya, Kenya is a divided nation with a lack of a national identity. Ethnic violence has been present in Kenya even before its independence. Even after the nation gained its independence, ethnic groups still divide and pose a challenge to Kenyas national security. Kenyas attempt at resolving this challenge was not successful and therefore Kenyas root word of addressing with the issue is through educating younger generations on how to think like Kenyans instead of following their ethnic prejudices. Kenya has everlastingly failed at resolving ethnicity and ethnic conflicts is still is a corrupted government.With the segregation of different ethnic groups, judicature is also in favor of the ethnicity of the party elected. In 2008 was the biggest political conflict Kenya has witness with the violence used a s a tool to displace members who were in power of specific ethnic groups. Keya created a legislation and made it a leg al requirement to found political parties based on the persons righteousness or ethnicity and this was also used to prevent gender discrimination. All parties were required to follow a enactment of conduct.The nation has failed repeatedly as it has not yet resolved the issues with ethnicity and corruption. Corruption in Kenya weakens its agenda on economic development. These ethnic groups are not only present in Kenya but also in other neighbouring countries which makes it very difficult for the country to respond to such an imminent and large threat that it is cladding as it is surrounded by unstable nations..Health and Food Insecurities Kenya has been struggling with health security for a long time. Incidences of malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other diseases have affected, not only Kenyans but also national economic development. More of the nations funds are directed towards building a better health fear system that would cater to everyone and could be afforded by everyon e. This eventually leads to a s cut back economic growth for the country, which leads to lower incomes for certain groups of people and thus resulting in a higher percentage of poverty. Kenya focuses on education, health and poverty as key instruments in developing the country and creating this prosperous nation it has envisioned by 2030.