ELEŞTİREL TEORİ BAĞLAMINDA KENYA’NIN KÜRESEL TERÖRLE MÜCADELESİ: EŞ-ŞEBAB ÖRNEĞİ

Kenya's counter-terrorism strategies have progressively depended on securitization and militarism, prompting apprehensions regarding their efficacy and implications for governance, human rights, and societal cohesion. This study utilizes Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), Critical Theory, and Securitization Theory to investigate how counter-terrorism discourse legitimizes oppressive security measures while sidelining alternative, community-based methods. The study, through the analysis of policy papers, official reports, and human rights evaluations, reveals that Kenya's securitized strategy disproportionately affects Muslim communities and Somali refugees, thereby consolidating state authority and exacerbating societal tensions. Notwithstanding governmental assertions of success, military-led counter-terrorism initiatives have not eradicated Al Shabaab’s violent acts, and in several instances, have intensified radicalization. The findings enhance existing literature by emphasizing the importance of rhetoric in legitimizing counter-terrorism strategies and perpetuating systemic disparities. The research indicates that Kenya's counter-terrorism framework necessitates a transition to human rights-oriented policies, socio-economic initiatives, and community involvement to attain enduring security.