Browsing by Author "Mumo Nzau"

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    East African Community Regional Force and Southern African Development Community Mission in Northern Mozambique in enhancing Security in the Regions Abdihakim
    (A Journal of the National Defence University-Kenya, 2025-12) Abdihakim Rashid Kassim; Mumo Nzau; Cliff Obwogi
    The study sought to analyse the contributions of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) and the Southern African Development Community Mission (SAMIM) to security in the Great Lakes and Southern Africa regions, respectively. The neoliberalism theory underpinned the study. This study adopted a comparative case study design embedded within a mixed-methods research approach. A comparative case study design was applied to enable an in-depth, contextually grounded analysis of multiple PSOs across Africa, highlighting both convergences and divergences in performance. The target population for the study included military personnel directly and indirectly involved with the EACRF and SAMIM missions, non-military personnel (such as civilian police), local government officials, community leaders and representatives in the countries of operations of the two missions, subject matter experts, scholars and representatives from international and national NGOs. Through purposive sampling, a sample of 85 participants was obtained using the Cochran Formula. Content analysis was used to analyse secondary data, while quantitative data was examined using descriptive statistics. The conclusions of the study were that both EACRF and SAMIM contributed significantly to peace and security in the region, but their overall contribution was limited because of systemic issues. For instance, EACRF did not make considerable progress in the achievement of its objectives largely due to logistical challenges and political differences, its short lifespan notwithstanding. On the other hand, SAMIM achieved greater security gains due to its longer presence. Both missions exhibited quantifiable but contentious roles in the security of the region, with the views of the stakeholders strongly divided. EACRF, with its community-centric approach, enhanced local reconciliation, conflict resolution and the strengthening of governance. However, it faced considerable scepticism from the public. In contrast, the multidimensional approach of SAMIM that integrates the efforts in the area of economic opportunities, counterinsurgency and governance reform has had a more balanced, yet more nuanced impact profile. Although the progress of regional cooperation is still relatively modest, both missions suggest that the greater success in the long run will probably be pegged on additional integration of economic development initiatives to work on the root causes of disparities and maintain stability.
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    Gender Dynamics in Countering Violent Extremism: Insights from Local Communities in Isiolo County, Kenya
    (International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 2024-10) Zadock Wambua Kavemba; Mumo Nzau; Emmanuel Kondoltiony
    Countering violent extremism (CVE) has become a significant concern globally, with various strategies being explored to address the root causes of radicalization. In regions like Isiolo County, Kenya, gender dynamics play a pivotal role in influencing both vulnerability to and engagement in efforts to combat extremism. Gender-sensitive approaches have been increasingly recognized for their potential to enhance the effectiveness of CVE interventions by addressing the social, economic, and political inequalities that contribute to radicalization. This study investigates Gender Dynamics in Countering Violent Extremism: Insights from Local Communities in Isiolo County, Kenya, utilizing a feminist security theory framework. The objective of the study is to explore how gender influences the effectiveness of CVE strategies and to identify the factors that enable women’s active involvement in CVE. A mixed-methods approach, including surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions, was used to gather perspectives from individuals directly or indirectly affected by violent extremist activities, as well as key informants involved in CVE initiatives. The study finds that promoting gender equality, fostering inclusive community dialogue, addressing underlying social issues, empowering women in leadership roles, and engaging men and boys in challenging traditional gender norms are critical to enhancing women’s participation in CVE. These findings underscore the importance of adopting a gender-sensitive approach to CVE, which recognizes and tackles the intersecting social, economic, and political factors driving violent extremism. Key recommendations include implementing governance reforms to promote gender equality, expanding educational and economic opportunities for women, fostering inclusive dialogues, and engaging men and boys in promoting positive masculinity. These insights contribute to broader discussions on gender-responsive approaches to security and peacebuilding, highlighting specific strategies to strengthen women’s roles in preventing and countering violent extremism in Isiolo County.
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    Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism: An Evaluation of Socio-Cultural Factors Underpinning the Sustainability of Programs in Lamu County, Kenya
    (Africa Journal of Security and Strategic Studies, 2026-02) Fatma Abdalla; Mumo Nzau; Resila Onyango
    For more than a decade, Lamu County, Kenya, has faced violent extremism rooted in historical grievances, socio-political marginalisation, and social inequality. In Kenya, authorities define violent extremism as the radicalisation of individuals who engage in or support violence to advance illiberal and undemocratic ideologies. This article analyses how socio-cultural factors shape the sustainability of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) programmes in Lamu. The authors examined how cultural, religious, and socio-economic factors influence community responses to P/CVE interventions through surveys and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with 431 respondents, including government officials, security personnel, religious leaders, and community members. The authors applied the Theory of Change to explain how interventions aim to achieve outcomes and the Social Exchange Theory to explain how perceived costs and benefits influence community engagement. The analysis shows that while government and security actors demonstrate high awareness of P/CVE strategies, inadequate coordination, limited training, and persistent mistrust constrain implementation. Cultural and religious institutions strengthen resilience through traditional conflict resolution, yet gender exclusion and political marginalisation weaken broader participation and threaten sustainability. The article argues that sustainable P/CVE efforts in Lamu require shifting from a security-centric model toward inclusive, culturally grounded approaches that foster collaboration across state and community actors.
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    Religious Sectarian Extremism in Kenya: An Assessment of Kilifi County
    (The Eastern Africa Journal of Policy and Strategy, 2025) Michael Mkoji; Mumo Nzau; Rosalind Nyawira Macharia
    Kenya’s battle against violent extremism, primarily focused on Islamist terrorism since the 1998 Nairobi bombing, has seen significant counterterrorism progress over the past two decades. However, extremism remains a pervasive social and security issue, necessitating systematic, research-based policy action. This became starkly evident a er the 2023 Shakahola cult tragedy, where over 400 lives were lost. This study examines religious sectarian extremism in Kenya, with a focus on Kili County from 2010 to 2024, a region marked by heightened extremism, including terrorism, mob killings of the elderly, and the Shakahola tragedy. It evaluates the impact of regulatory frameworks on the relationship between religious sectarian extremism and community security and analyzes strategies to mitigate the threats posed by religious sectarian extremism. The study applies the theory of violent extremist religious sects (VERSs) to contextualize the issue. A descriptive research design was used, collecting data from 384 respondents through structured questionnaires for quantitative analysis (using means and standard deviations) and semi-structured interviews with sixteen key informants for thematic qualitative analysis. Findings reveal that religious sectarian extremism in Kili County and Kenya manifests through religious divisions, conflicts driven by differing theological worldviews among leaders, destruction of worship sites, and discrimination based on religious differences. It also appears as emerging cults and extreme acts like mass suicides, killings, verbal and physical attacks, and hatred. To address this, the study recommends a government-led religious literacy campaign and a robust legal framework to regulate religious institutions.
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    Stakeholder Participation Mechanisms in Foreign Policy Decision-Making: Lessons from Kenya’s EACRF Deployment
    (The Eastern Africa Journal of Policy and Strategy, 2025-12) Wamuyu Ndururi; Caroline Kathure Gatobu; Mumo Nzau
    This article examined the role of stakeholder participation mechanisms in foreign policy decision-making, focusing on the deployment of Kenya’s contingent (KENCON) under the East African Community Regional Force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The general purpose was to investigate how diverse stakeholders influence foreign policy processes within the framework of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. It specifically sought to (i) identify the constitutional frameworks guiding foreign policy decision-making, (ii) analyse the role of key stakeholders in influencing the KENCON deployment decision, (iii) evaluate the effectiveness of public engagement platforms in facilitating stakeholder participation, and (iv) propose strategies to strengthen inclusive foreign policy decision-making. Anchored in public choice theory and constructivism, the study applied a qualitative approach using case study design. Data were collected from 188 respondents who included government officials, military personnel, policy analysts, civil society representatives and members of the public. The data collection instruments used were questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used. The study identified barriers to effective participation which included institutional capacity constraints, information asymmetries and political culture factors. The findings also indicated that despite the existence of stakeholder mechanisms in theory, in practice they are weak, symbolic and dominated by executive actors. The study proposed a comprehensive stakeholder engagement framework that incorporates multi-tiered consultation processes, enhanced information sharing mechanisms and strengthened institutional capacity for public participation. This framework would address the need for balancing security imperatives with democratic accountability while ensuring meaningful stakeholder engagement in foreign policy formulation.