NCJ Number
209204
Journal
Studies in Conflict & Terrorism Volume: 28 Issue: 2 Dated: March-April 2005 Pages: 99-112
Date Published
March 2005
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Following a historical overview of Kenya's recent experience with terrorism and the public's and government's response to it, this article reports on an exploratory survey of Kenyans' perceptions of terrorism and their implications for United States-Kenyan relations.
Abstract
Although recent terrorist attacks primarily targeted American and Israeli properties and populations in Kenya, most Kenyans viewed the attacks as assaults on their sovereignty and peace. Kenya's commitment to fighting terrorism is reflected in both its domestic and foreign policies. An exploratory survey on perceptions of terrorism conducted between December 2002 and February 2003 involved 102 adult college-educated Kenyans randomly selected in Nairobi and parts of Western Kenya. When asked to assess threats to the Kenyan population, respondents gave the top ranking to AIDS and local criminals. The terrorist acts viewed as most threatening were suicide bombings, plane crashes, and stabbing attacks. Media reports on terrorism were perceived as intensifying feelings of anxiety and helplessness. Respondents' preferred means of preventing terrorist attacks were the performance of routine security checks, Israel's recognition of Palestinians' right to statehood, and intelligence sharing with the CIA and Mosad. Kenya's commitment to the war on terrorism was viewed by respondents as primarily support for the United States as a primary terrorist target in exchange for the United States' support against AIDS and for Kenyan political stability, democracy, pluralism, and economic development. 4 tables, 12 notes, and 19 references