Terrorism and Religion in Kenya

terrorist act and Religion in KenyaEXPLORATION OF THE INTERPLAY among TERRORISM RELIGION AND THE IMPACT ON PEACE STABILITY IN KENYA1. Introduction1.1 Background to the searchThe growing trends of terrorist act in Africa, and in the expanse of Inter-Governmental Authority on Development IGAD in feature within which Kenya finds itself, have become a serious concern for security. Its impact on peace and sparing development is significantly negative. Many lives have been lost, and fear and anxiety in the people is slowly weirdo in. Kenya serves as an epitome of the phenomenon of terrorist act taking place in the globe, and the IGAD voice in particular. All these reasons necessitated the project of this look at the micro level (i.e., Kenya). Through this study, the authors hope to present a complete hold on of the constitution of terrorist act and its development in Kenya, with a view to making shares towards the knowledge of act of terrorism and addressing it.It is tou gh to give a universally acceptable definition of terrorism. Because of its dependence on the historical contexts it appears, its definition is plant in aces political position and ideological or religiousviews. What one may distinguish terrorism in one context another may consider it a legitimate action. This poses a challenge to term an actor a terrorist.Some disposals, conventions and exclusives use terrorising activities for different purposes. For these reasons, here the term terrorism sort of than terrorist is preferred. act of terrorism is, therefore, a set of premeditated actions or strategies adopted by non- evidence (groups or individuals) or state actors against ordinary and targeted notable people to further certain political, social, or religious purposes (Sandler, 2011 Ramsbotham, Woodhouse and Miall, 2011).Without prejudice to state and government terrorist activities existing in some non-democratic countries, this research leaveing focus more on the violent activities perpetrated by the non-state actors. The actors in terrorism use strategies intended to causeextreme anxiety and fear in a wider population, who theactors hope wouldin move around pressurize their governments into acceding to the perpetrator/s demands. We consider terrorist act any class of action that intentionally deplumate people into submission to the will and wish of the actor under the pain of physical and psychological equipment casualty (including destruction of life and property).Terrorist activities are not recent phenomenon, although the magnitude of its violence and casualties of our time is impressive. Today, at the imbue of the twenty-first century, the world hears the era of the politico-religious wave terrorism. Putting aside the harrowing and terrorizing local experiences of terrorist activities in individual countries without the world (e.g., pogroms, criminal activities of groups, of drag cartels and gangs, and state sponsored activities in so me countries), the major waves of terrorism(Rapoport, 2008) omen the growing trends of terrorism globally. Todays form of terrorism has grown more complicated and transnational, which the IGAD region and Kenya in particular experiences.The experience of Africa of the politico-religious terrorism is recent and growing phenomenon. It is continuing in some countries and uphill in other countries of the Continent. In Northern Africa, it has been off and on Algeria Mali, Niger and Mauritania have been struggling with Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb since 2001, with another break away branch Movement for Oneness and Jihad in west Africa (MOJWA) in mid-2011 led by a black African, perhaps in reaction to Algerian Arab domination. It the Great Compromiser an al Qaida inspired group. Egypt has a long experience of on-and-off attacks. Somalia in Eastern Africa has been a place for the sensitive breed of terrorism, Al Shabab with links to Al Quida. The Boko Haram, a Sunni Islamic fundamenta list sect began in 2002 with one Mohammed Yusuf in Maiduguri, the capital of the north-eastern state of Borno, Nigeria, with a complex religious school that attracted young people from the ground and its neighbours. The students came principally from poor Muslim families. It has moved to a radical militant Islamist movement, a salafist jihadi group with the influence of Wahhabi creed, with expressed claim of commitment to the propagation of the teaching of Prophet and Jihad, and strict adherence to shariah law law, and with vision of changingNigeria into an Islamic state. It is continuing with devastating activities in Nigeria, particularly since 2009,and now (in 2014) expanding even into Union Cameroon.The IGAD region of Africa is rife with terrorism perpetrated by the non-state actors.IGAD region comprises eight countries, namely Ethiopia, Eritrea, capital of Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, with its headquarters in Djibouti City. It was founded in 1986 to address the serious sufferings and challenges ca utilise by famine, natural disasters, and economic hardships in the Eastern Africa Region. Today, with its new organisational structure, the particle countries cooperate in the areas of foodsecurity and environmental protection promotion and maintenance of peace and security and humanitarian personal business and economic cooperation and integration (IGAD, http//igad.int/). The region has an estimated population of 242,226,382 according to the July 2014 CIAs The knowledge domain Factbook, and suffers constant threat of terrorism, the experience of which is being deeply felt in KenyaKenyas population, according The World Factbook, is estimated to be 45,010,056.The Christians account for the bulk of the population (82.5%), followed by Muslims (11.1%) according to the Population and Housing Census of 2009. In the IGAD region, Kenya it has been the host of the largest refugee population, although at the heartbeat with the flow of South Sudanese refugees Ethiopia contains slightly more refugee population.Kenya has experienced terrorism by non-state actors since 1950s. The shifta activities in the northern Kenya, and the ensuing state actions were forms of terrorism. Today, Kenya suffers from both national and transnational acts of politico-religious terrorism. The country has been employing different mechanisms of addressing the problem of non-state form of terrorism, mainly focusing on military means exactly also in recent times through constitutional reforms to address the sources. These have not shown reduction in terrorism the experience of nationalist form of terrorism is continuing the politico-religious form of terrorism is rising.Globally, the period starting from the 2004 pick of terrorism incidents to 2008 showed a commodious decline in international terrorist attacks(Ramsbotham et al., 2011, p. 80). But the situations today in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, northern Africa, and the IGAD regio nare no consolation to us. It shows the exponential rise of terrorism in these parts of the regions of the world. The 2014 Global heartsease Index study concludes The world has become less peaceful every year since 2008 (p. 2). This indicates the importance of better learning of the nature of the conflict and its trends to be able to face the challenge.1.2 Statement of the ProblemKenya faces a more aggressive, dynamic and annihilating form of terrorism with tactics causing a great physical, psychological, and economic damages to the society. The approaches that have been used so far appear to be ineffective. There is a need to assess the nature of terrorism and the mechanisms that have been applied in addressing it.1.3 Purpose of the StudyThis research explores the nature of terrorism and mechanisms lendable in addressing it.1.4 Objectives of the StudyTo watch over the relationship between terrorism and religionTo document trends in terrorism in KenyaTo determine the effect of terrorism on peace and developmentTo determine feasibility conditions of terrorismTo determine mechanisms of combating terrorism1.5 Research QuestionsWhat is the relationship between terrorism and religion?Are there trends in terrorism in Kenya?What effects does terrorism have on peace and development?What are the feasibility conditions of terrorism?What mechanisms are available in combating terrorism?1.6 Theoretical FrameworkThis research uses two complementary theories possibility of good governance and theory of strong state. (The assumptions of these theories will be added).1.7 Justification of the StudyTo adopt contribution towards the knowledge of terrorism strain comprehensive analysis on terrorism in Kenya for policy makersOffer recommendations relevant for the process of addressing the problem2. LITERATURE REVIEW2.1 Understanding the Link between Religion and TerrorismIn the literary works, there seem to be two broad categories into which the scholars argue those who cons ider religion as not being the cause of terrorism, but instead argue that the causes for violence are due to regime or societal problems (extreme poverty, hunger, etc.) (Jackson, 2007 Mamdani, 2002 Ehrlich Liu 2002 Frisch, 2005Mousseau, 2002). The second category includes scholars who argue that religion is among the main driving forces of terror(Crenshaw, 2000 Pearce, 2005Silberman, Higgins Dweck,2005Cliteur, 2010 Rid, 2010 KruglanskiFishman, 2006 Horowitz, 2009). Both groups associate that that religion is not the cause of terrorism. However, these authors have not investigated specific religious motivations involved in the terrorism. This research tries to examine more specifically the religious motivations provided by Islam that draws recruits in Kenya, so as to better understand and address the issue.2.2 Feasibility conditions of TerrorismA number of factors breed terrorism. The almost common factors cited in most of the literature include external support (Pillar, 2001 Camp bell Flournoy, 2001), repressive governments (Regan, 2005Bjoro, 2003 Netanyahu, 2001 Carson, 2005), extremist religious ideologies (CilliersSturman 2002Moustapha, 2002), and socio-economic conditions among the Muslim populations (Campbell Flournoy, 2001 Pillar, 2001 Carson ,2005).2.3 Impact of terrorism in KenyaDespite Kenya being a victim of repeated terrorist attacks, not much literature is available covering the impact the threat has had on the country in terms of peace and security. Some literature relevant to this research highlight the socioeconomic impacts of the threat (Lecey, 2004Barkan Cooke, 2001 Muhula, 2007 Downing, 2006 ). This research to determine the extent to which terrorism has unnatural Kenya.2.4 Combating TerrorismSome elements of an effective counterterrorism strategy relevant to this research, cited by various authors, are public kickshaw and information campaigns(Pillar, 2001) legislation financial controls (Pillar, 2001Thomas et al. 2004) and socioeconomic development (Lee, 2004Campbell Flournoy, 2001) use of military force (Netanyahu, 2001Juergensmeyer, 2001) and world of a specialized judicial system for terrorism suspects (Hoffman and Morrison, 2000 Netanyahu, 2001 Shapiro Benedict, 2003). International collaboration is also another outlook that has been underscored (Ramsbotham et al., 2011). How much these will be effective in addressing Terrorism in Kenya will be discussed.3. methodologyThe research plan hopes to achieve the objectives through multiple answering of the research questions thereby coming up with answers that are social science empirical research knowledge. This knowledge will not only make a contribution to what is already known active the nature and dynamics of terrorism in Kenya, but also be valuable in terms of informing policy in Kenya as is synoptically describe below.Research SiteAreas of Eastern and Northern Kenya and also selected urban places of the country as a unanimousPopulationAdult men and wome n who are knowledgeable direct (experience based) or indirect (Secondary source based) about terrorist and terrorism in Kenya.StrategyOne- off cross-sectional survey will be used. Specifically, because the research will be guided by questions and not hypotheses, descriptive rather than analytic cross-sectional survey will be employed in the collection of data from the sampled population. Thus the prime purpose will be to provide descriptive estimates of the purview of actors in terrorism, terror acts and terrorism.SamplingDue in part to opting to be guided by research questions rather than hypotheses, the probability sampling principle will be relaxed in large measure but not totally dispensed with because of the need to provide estimates of parameters of dynamics of terrorism in Kenya, taking into account Kenyas neighbours ( Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda). The Sample will be constructed from individuals well selected purposefully to go steady quotas deemed to be import ant or salient to getting to know and understand terroristic phenomena what they mean, what they entail, what they imply, what they deny, and what to do about them only in the interest of socio-economic development praxis in Kenya.Data Collection ProceduresQuantitative and qualitative data will be collected from respondents through questionnaire, structured and unstructured interview and focus group discussions. tentative BudgetBudget linesAmount in USDPreparation and Development of Research tools800Training of Research Assistants1,200 demesne Research4,500Technical Assistance for Data Analysis1,200 composition Writing400Validation store1,000Printing Binding and Distribution900Logistics (Stationary, Communication, Internet)1,500Allowance for Lead researcher and Research Assistants3,500Grand Total15,000BibligographyBarkan, Joel D., and Jennifer G. Cooke.2001. 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