The Role of Strategic Priorities in the Kenya Defence Policy for Enhancing National Security

This study investigated the role of strategic priorities in the Kenya Defence Policy in enhancing national security. In particular, it reviewed the strategic priorities of the Kenya Defence Policy, their appropriateness to the current country's security threats, and the mechanisms that facilitate adequate policy implementation for the Kenya Defence Policy. A descriptive cross-sectional survey with a mixed-methods design was used in this study. A sample of 300 respondents comprising respondents from the Kenya Defence Forces, Ministry of Defence, National Intelligence Service and the National Police Service was selected for data collection using structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression analysis and the qualitative data were analysed using a theme analysis. The results showed that territorial integrity and sovereignty are the leading concerns in Kenya's Defence policy, which is followed by military modernisation, operationalising against terror agitators, intelligence operations and cooperation in Defence across the region. The results of the correlation analysis showed that all the strategic priorities are associated with national security enhancement at a significant positive level, and the multiple regression analysis indicated that the strategic priorities explained 62.7% of the variation in national security enhancement (R² = 0.627, p < 0.001); the strategic priority with the highest contribution was military modernisation. Respondents were confident that Kenya's Defence Policy has responded to changes in Kenya's security situation but emphasised that there are manpower and institutional weaknesses that require addressing, as well as technological innovations. The study concludes that there is a need to continually invest in military modernisation, among other measures, to enhance the country's national security, while also recommending improved coordination among security agencies, sharing intelligence, strengthening regional defence cooperation and regular review of national Defence policy to address emerging security threats.

Kenya Defence Policy, Strategic Priorities, National Security

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