Analysing Kenya’s Contemporary Peace and Security Issues and Challenges

The article analyses contemporary peace and security challenges from the Kenyan perspective. The study was conducted in 10 counties out of 47 counties that make-up Kenya. Data was collected from primary and secondary sources through qualitative approach. Findings indicate multifaceted and intertwined security challenges related to climate change, terrorism and cyber security – all mostly related to inefficiency of the state institutions and high political leaders, high corruption, limited security infrastructures and limited capacity of state security officers in terms of training, equipment’s and funding. While the issues of climate change and cyber security are global in nature; the issue of terrorism by Al-Shabab is particularly facing Kenya and Somalia and worsened by cooperation of Somali citizens and the Somalis of Kenyan origin as well as extremist Muslims both in Somalia and Kenya. Over the past years, Kenya has struggled with the above peace and security issues and challenges and there seems to be no robust national strategies, mechanism and policies to address this complicated peace and security environment. In particular, this violent extremism by Al- Shabab has led to attacks on civilians most in Nairobi, Northern Kenya and at the Coastal region and such terrorism and extremist ideas are increasingly flourishing in the above mentioned country regions. Hence, posing a significant challenge to Kenya’s future.