CHALLENGES FACING MULTI-AGENCY SECURITY MANAGEMENT IN VIOLENCE PRONE WEST POKOT COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
The North Rift Region of Kenya which includes West Pokot County has for a long-time experienced incidences of insecurity brought about by pastoralist militias. Therefore, the Kenyan government has adopted multi-agency security management approach to control the menace. A study conducted at West Pokot County examined the relationship between the multi-agency approach and security management. The specific objectives of the study were to establish the following: multi-agency institutions’ involvement in security management, multi-agency security command structure and coordination of security formations, challenges faced by multi-agency security personnel, and mechanisms of improving multi-agency security management approaches in the County. The study which was a descriptive survey in design was guided by the Systems Theory, and Securitization Theory. The study participants included security personnel from the Military, National Police Service, National Intelligence Service, Civil Society Organizations, NGOs, Chiefs and their assistant, and the village leaders. The sample size comprised of 302 respondents drawn from the Military, National Police Service, and National Intelligence Service. On the challenges faced in multi-agency security management in West Pokot County, 72% of the respondents indicated that lack of adequate resources and equipment was a serious problem, 75% inadequate technical capacity, and 54% lack of a unified framework in security management which sometimes leads to clashes among the teams. The study recommends that community policing should be brought to the centre of multiagency approaches to security management as this will help in creating synergy between the multiagency security teams and civilians, and prior to commencement of the multiagency security operations, a thorough assessment of the needs of the security teams in terms of equipment and resources should be done in order to ensure that they are motivated enough to carry out the security operation successfully. This paper presents the study findings on multi-agency security institutions’ involvement in West Pokot, the challenges faced by the personnel, and the mechanisms of improving multi-agency security engagement in the county.
References
Amnesty International (2023). Security Operations in the North Rift must Protect Socio-economic Rights of the already Vulnerable Populations. Amnesty International Report. Retrieved from: https://www.amnestykenya.org/security-operations-in-north-rift-must-protect-socio-economic-rights-of-the-vulnerable/
Ashworth, A., & Zedner, L. (2014). The Historical Origins of the Preventive State. Oxford University Press, U.K
Bickley, S. (2017) Security Risk Management: a basic guide for smaller NGOs. European Interagency Security Forum (EISF).
Buzan, B., Waever, O., & Wilde, J. (1998). Security: A New Framework for Analysis. Lynne Reinner Publishers, London UK
Ferrill, J. (2016). The Impact of 9/11 on Border Security and Bilateral Cooperation Between Canada and the United States. Master’s Thesis, Charles Sturt University.
Herbert, S. & Birch, I. (2022). Cross-border pastoral mobility and cross-border conflict in Africa – patterns and policy responses. XCEPT Evidence Synthesis. Birmingham, UK: GSDRC, University of Birmingh
https://acleddata.com/2023/03/31/kenya-situation-update-march-2023-government-operation-against-pastoralist-militias-in-north-rift-region/
Kaino, B.J. (2022). Joint Disarmament Programs between Kenya and Uganda and Cross-border Security of Nomadic Pastoralist’s Communities Living along the Turkwel River Belt. (MA Dissertation, Kenyatta University)
Karatas, A. (2021). Evaluation of Security Management from the Perspective of Current Management Approaches and Management Models. International Academic Social Resources Journal. 6 (31), 1653-1670
Kibusia, J. K. (2020). Contribution of the multiagency approach to security in the fight against terrorism in Kenya: A case of disciplined forces (Doctoral dissertation, Africa Nazarene University).
Kimonye, J.M. (2022). Multi-agency Approach in Promoting National Security: A Case of Operation Amani Boni in Lamu County. (Dissertation, United States University International, Kenya).
Kirimi, J. M., Kinyanjui, F. K., Ngari. L. (2022). Adoption of a multi-agency approach in securing Kenya’s international borders. International Academic Journal of Arts and Humanities, 1(2), 394-409.
Kithii, N.J., &Odhiambo, E. (2023). Impacts of Using Multi Agency Command Centre Strategy on National Security at Isebania Trans-Border, Migori County, Kenya. Open Access Library Journal. 10, 1-23
Lang’at, H. K. (2018). Impact of Civil-Military Cooperation on the Conflict of Somalia 2012- 2016 (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi).
Levy, E. (2015). Interagency Coordination of Security Operations in a large US Seaport. (PHD Dissertation, Walden University)
Lusiola, M.A. (2021). Military Diplomacy Strategies Applied by AMISOM in Restoration of Security in the Horn of Africa. African Journal of Empirical Research. 2(1), 41-45.
Mazerolle, L., Cherney, A., Eggins, E., Higginson, A., Hine, L., & Belton, E. (2020). Multi-agency Programmes with Police as a Partner for Reducing Radicalization to Violence. Campbell Collaboration, Australia
Mbugua, R.N. (2016). The Causes and Impact of Insecurity on Pastoralists Economies: The Case of West Pokot County, Kenya (1990-2015). (MA Thesis, University of Nairobi, Kenya)
Minsitry of Interior and National Coordination (2023). Security situation in North Rift region. Government of Kenya.
Njiru, L. M., Muna, W. (2023). Multiagency security operations effectiveness in countering violent extremism in Nairobi City County, Kenya. International Academic Journal of Arts and Humanities, 1(3), 184-210.
Olawale, I.A. (2020). Security Management In Nigeria: Prospects And Problems, Peace and Conflict Studies Programme (Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan)
Reinvent (2020). Baseline Survey Spreads. Retrieved from: https://www.reinvent-kenya.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/REINVENT-PROGRAMME-BASELINE-SURVEY-SPREADS.pdf
Sarma, K. (2019). Multi-Agency Working and Preventing Violent Extremism; paper 2. Radicalization Awareness Network’s Health and Social Care Working Group. 1-20
Simiyu, J. (2023). The Effectiveness of Multi-Agency Operation Leadership in Mitigating Insecurity in Lamu County, Kenya. Path of Science. 9 (1), 3031-3036
Sutter, S. (2020). Enhancing Security Cooperation in and with Asia. GIZ. Retrieved from: https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/87412.html
Utoh-Ezeajugh, T. C &Ibekwe, E. U. (2012). The humanities and good governance.Nimo Rex.
