TITLE:
Fighting Terrorism in Universities in Kenya
AUTHORS:
Taaliu Simon Thuranira
KEYWORDS:
Radicalization, Terrorism, Human Rights, University, Kenya
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.5 No.3,
March
27,
2017
ABSTRACT: This paper examines the meaning of terrorism and its causes. The paper also illuminates the recommendations on how terrorism can be tackled in Kenyan universities. Terrorist activities are premeditated, politically or religiously motivated violence perpetrated against civilians by a clandestine agents. Universities should strive to combat all acts of terrorism in the wake of the merciless killing of students at the Garissa University College in 2015 that left 148 students dead. The Government of Kenya has a duty to protect all its citizens including students in both public and private universities. Terrorism in Kenya has been caused by many reasons and among them is corruption. There are many illegal immigrants who enter Kenya from Ethiopia, Somalia, and Southern Sudan. These illegal immigrants buy their way into Kenya by bribing immigration officials at the border points. Once they arrive in Kenya they get Kenyan identity cards through corruption. These illegal immigrants smuggle arms and are used to recruit terrorists in Kenya. Other causes of terrorism in Kenya include unemployment, allure of quick wealth, religious motivation, and use of drugs. There are stereo-types of terrorism based on religion, race, ethnicity, gender; socio-economic status. This paper firmly rejects the notion of identification of terrorism with any country, religion or ethnicity. Countering terrorism requires a comprehensive response by University managers and the Government of Kenya. This should include integration of national cohesion into the University curriculum, training peer counsellors, research into causes of terrorism, and funding of terrorists. Universities and the Government of Kenya also need to improve on good governance to avoid marginalization of some communities. Some other methods of preventing terrorism include teaching of University common courses on anti-terrorism and radicalization. The paper recommends that Universities should have security personnel within their environs but they should be more of preventive agents, because they can be an impediment.