POROUS BORDERS AND LOCAL VULNERABILITIES: COMMUNITY POLICING AS A MISSING LINK IN KENYA'S COUNTERTERRORISM AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ARCHITECTURE

Abstract

The continued rise of cross-border terrorism has led to serious security challenges in many states and regions, and has significantly destabilized international security. The situation has been particularly challenging in areas that border countries with weak government control or simply fragile states.

This article focuses on the North-Eastern region of Kenya, an area bordering Somalia that has experienced persistent attacks, with many of the remedial measures taken proving ineffective. The article draws from qualitative secondary data, including academic articles, institutional reports, and published papers. These sources indicate that community policing approaches have not been effectively utilized in counter-terrorism efforts.

The study reveals that the porosity of the Kenya–Somalia border facilitates the movement of terrorists, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and other criminal activities. Additional contributing factors include poor economic conditions, youth unemployment, and limited access to social amenities, all of which increase vulnerability to radicalization. It further demonstrates that community policing, rooted in trust, intelligence sharing, and partnership, can provide more sustainable solutions to the problem. Its potential to strengthen human intelligence and collaboration in security approaches is also examined. The study concludes that adopting community-based security strategies can significantly improve the effectiveness and sustainability of counter-terrorism efforts and overall national security.