Examining the balance between safeguarding the protection of refugee rights and combating terrorism in Kenya

Abstract

Kenya has been home to a significant population of refugees fleeing from war-torn Somalia, which in recent years has been going through climate emergencies. Kenyan authorities have taken a securitization approach on refugee issues, whereby it is alleged that refugee camps in Kenya are breed for the thriving of terrorism. There have been various subsequent terror attacks in the Country since Kenya’s military has been deployed in Somalia to aid with the fight against the Al-Shabaab terror group. Since then, there have been the Westgate Mall attack, the Garissa University attack, and the Dusit D2 Hotel attacks, which all caught the nation by surprise. The Kenyan authorities alleged the organization of this attacks to have been taking place in refugee camps. The ministry of interior and national coordination had launched “Operation Usalama Watch,” a security response to these terror attacks in the neighborhoods of Eastleigh and Mombasa, which are dominated by ethnic Somali groups. The ethnic group includes Somali refugees, Somali Kenyans, and a minor group of paperless Somali nationals. The security operation has failed to initially draw distinction amongst the group, and all have been treated the same, including the Somali Kenyans. The securitization of refugee issues has led to serious problems in violating national and international laws on protecting refugee rights, of which Kenya is a party. This research first aims to shed light on the repressive nature of the government counter-terrorism measures such as the “Operation Usalama Watch” and how it violates human rights and the refugee rights. Secondly, the research aims to show the harm of securitization of issues of refugees and other minority groups. Finally, the research will recommend on how the government could adopt more efficient counter-terrorism measures.