THE INFLUENCE OF MILITARY ENGAGEMENT IN SOMALIA ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF KENYA'S NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS
Abstract
This study examined the influence of military engagement in Somalia on the achievement of Kenya's national security interests, addressing critical questions about the effectiveness of over a decade of military intervention. Kenya's military involvement in Somalia, beginning with Operation Linda Nchi in 2011 and continuing through the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), represents a significant departure from traditional non-interventionist policies toward active regional security engagement. The research was motivated by persistent security challenges despite substantial military investment, including continued Al-Shabaab attacks within Kenya and ongoing border insecurity. The study employed a descriptive research design, targeting 300 individuals including military officers, government officials, counterterrorism experts, and affected residents. Using Yamane's formula, a sample size of 171 respondents was selected through purposive sampling, achieving an exceptional response rate of 96.5%. Data were collected through structured questionnaires with analysis conducted using SPSS version 27.0 employing descriptive and inferential statistics, including regression analysis. The findings revealed a strong positive relationship between military engagement in Somalia and Kenya's national security achievement, with a correlation coefficient of R = 0.869 and explanatory power of R² = 0.751, indicating that 75.1% of variance in national security outcomes is attributed to military engagement. Key achievements included enhanced strategic integration of military, diplomatic, and counterterrorism efforts (mean = 4.37), strengthened regional military collaboration (mean = 4.35), and improved public confidence in military capacity (mean = 4.22). Counter-terrorism operations demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing terrorist threats and incidents within Kenya. The study concludes that Kenya's military engagement in Somalia significantly influences national security interest achievement through improved border security, reduced terrorist activities, enhanced regional stability, and strengthened security infrastructure. The research recommends continued military collaboration with regional partners, sustained counter-terrorism operations, enhanced border security investment, and comprehensive evaluation mechanisms to optimize military engagement strategies for sustained national security benefits.
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