An indigenous African framework for counterterrorism: decolonising Kenya's approach to countering "Al-Shabaab-ism"/
Samwel Oando & Shirley Achieng'
- 2021
It was not until 9/11 that Kenya's counterterrorism discourse took a serious upward trajectory. This was after Kenya's elevation by her Western allies as an "anchor" state in the Global War on Terror (GWOT). It illustrates how Kenya's security architecture is hugely dependent on Western counterterrorism frameworks, strategies, and at times, security priorities. This article explores how Western constructions of terrorism permeate Kenya's counterterrorism, and deny subaltern actors the opportunity to participate in developing intervention priorities and owning the strategies. The analysis suggest some parallels between colonial continuities and the state-owned interventions. It argues for increased recognition and inclusion of indigenous African counterterrorism approaches which have been obscured from mainstream knowledge systems.