Understanding the history and operations of Al Shabaab in Kenya through the lens of Kant's categorical imperative of moral philosophy

Summary

During the conception of the al Shabaab (AS), the notion of violent extremism seemed inconceivable, yet it is the most infamous terrorist organization in Africa, inflicting death and suffering upon innocent people both within and outside Somalia. This study sought to unearth the historical context and operational dynamics of these terrorist attacks in Kenya, particularly by the al-Shabaab terror group, and denigrate them in accordance with Kant's categorical imperative on moral ethics. It seeks to expose how al-Shabaab disregards the basic principles of the moral law by undermining the individual rights of others to freedom of thought, conscience, speech, and even the right to life. The study, which was a combination of empirical data and literature review, was conducted in Nairobi, Isiolo, Garissa, and Lamu Counties of Kenya, which have been previously documented as recruitment hubs for the al Shabaab (AS). A meta-analysis of the literature on terrorist activities in Kenya was conducted while simultaneously interviewing six former members of al Shabaab (AS). The findings of the study established that Kenya had been the receipt of numerous terrorist attacks resulting in loss of lives, injuries, and destruction of property. The genesis and sequence of these operations by the al Shabaab (AS) were also outlined.

Keywords

Al-Shabaab, Kenya, Kant, categorical imperative, terrorism, moral philosophy, recruitment hubs