Multiagency Security Operations Effectiveness in Countering Violent Extremism in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Summary

Violent extremism is a global threat that has wreaked havoc on many countries, leading to immeasurable casualties and destruction. Kenya’s fight against violent extremism employed a multiagency security strategy after a spate of deadly violent attacks between 2013 and 2020. The goal was to prevent, counter, and respond to violent attacks. Some studies were conducted concerning multiagency security operations and countering violent extremism. Despite the availability of past studies, few were conducted in the context of Kenya. Little was known about multiagency security operations’ effectiveness in the fight against violent extremism since its inception. The study objectives were to determine the effects of coordination structures, resource mobilization and community mobilization, all within the multiagency framework, on countering violent extremism in Nairobi city county. The study was supported by; securitization, realism, and social capital theories. The main guide for the research was idealism and system principles in this study. The study’s framework was a descriptive survey technique. A target population of 920 people was identified, including establishments dealing with violent extremism, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Anti-terror police unit, the National Intelligence Service, and Kenya Defense Forces, from which 279 people were recruited to help accomplish the study. A combination of sampling procedures, including maximum variation, purposive, and snowball sampling, were used to pick the sample population. For this, Yamane’s formula was utilized to calculate the sample size. Raw data were collected by the use of questionnaires. Instrument reliability was established using Cronbach’s alpha Correlation Coefficient. The numeric data was evaluated using SPSS based on descriptive and inferential analyses, while qualitative data was examined in light of the themes that emerged from the study goals. The results of the data analysis were introduced using graphs, charts, and tables. Throughout the study, all ethical and legal requirements were maintained to protect the integrity of the findings. Of the 279 administered questionnaires, 261 were collected and analyzed, representing a 93.6 percent response rate. The 261 questionnaires formed the foundation for data analysis. The study findings established that coordination structures, resource mobilization, and community mobilization within the multiagency framework had a positive effect on countering violent extremism in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study concluded that multiagency security operations were effective in countering violent extremism in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Finally, the study recommended government and the multiagency institution’s leaders should commit to increasing resources, establishing clear standard operating procedures for the forces operating at the grassroots level, a clear leadership structure, and minimizing political interference to enhance multiagency security operations effectiveness in countering violent extremism in Nairobi City County, Kenya.

Keywords

multiagency security operations, violent extremism, Nairobi, Kenya, coordination, resource mobilization, community mobilization