The Impact of Drug Trafficking on Informal Security Actors in Kenya
The Kenyan state is currently under pressure from two sides: First, numerous non-state armed groups have taken over the provision of security in areas where the state is practically absent. Second, drug-trafficking organizations are gaining ground as the country is increasingly being used as a major...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2014-01-01
|
| Series: | Africa Spectrum |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/afsp/article/view/782 |
| _version_ | 1818519520241778688 |
|---|---|
| author | Moritz Schuberth |
| author_facet | Moritz Schuberth |
| author_sort | Moritz Schuberth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Kenyan state is currently under pressure from two sides: First, numerous non-state armed groups have taken over the provision of security in areas where the state is practically absent. Second, drug-trafficking organizations are gaining ground as the country is increasingly being used as a major transit hub for narcotics. This article investigates the relationship between drug trafficking and informal security provision in Kenya and draws analogies from comparable experiences in Latin America and West Africa. Field research in Kenya has demonstrated that profit-oriented, informal security actors in Mombasa work for drug lords, while their counterparts in Nairobi are more likely to be hired by politicians. Moreover, faith-based vigilante groups in both cities appear to be less susceptible to external manipulation by drug traffickers. The article concludes by considering the potential consequences of an expansion of the drug trade in Kenya. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T01:25:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1445a824897842448d76a2b38316dfb5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1868-6869 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T01:25:17Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Africa Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj.art-1445a824897842448d76a2b38316dfb52022-12-22T01:25:33ZengSAGE PublishingAfrica Spectrum1868-68692014-01-014935581The Impact of Drug Trafficking on Informal Security Actors in KenyaMoritz Schuberth0University of BradfordThe Kenyan state is currently under pressure from two sides: First, numerous non-state armed groups have taken over the provision of security in areas where the state is practically absent. Second, drug-trafficking organizations are gaining ground as the country is increasingly being used as a major transit hub for narcotics. This article investigates the relationship between drug trafficking and informal security provision in Kenya and draws analogies from comparable experiences in Latin America and West Africa. Field research in Kenya has demonstrated that profit-oriented, informal security actors in Mombasa work for drug lords, while their counterparts in Nairobi are more likely to be hired by politicians. Moreover, faith-based vigilante groups in both cities appear to be less susceptible to external manipulation by drug traffickers. The article concludes by considering the potential consequences of an expansion of the drug trade in Kenya.http://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/afsp/article/view/782political science, peace and conflict studies, area studiesdrug traffic, organized crime, paramilitary forces300, 305, 320, 322, 380, 382Kenya, West Africa, Latin Americapresent |
| spellingShingle | Moritz Schuberth The Impact of Drug Trafficking on Informal Security Actors in Kenya Africa Spectrum political science, peace and conflict studies, area studies drug traffic, organized crime, paramilitary forces 300, 305, 320, 322, 380, 382 Kenya, West Africa, Latin America present |
| title | The Impact of Drug Trafficking on Informal Security Actors in Kenya |
| title_full | The Impact of Drug Trafficking on Informal Security Actors in Kenya |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Drug Trafficking on Informal Security Actors in Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Drug Trafficking on Informal Security Actors in Kenya |
| title_short | The Impact of Drug Trafficking on Informal Security Actors in Kenya |
| title_sort | impact of drug trafficking on informal security actors in kenya |
| topic | political science, peace and conflict studies, area studies drug traffic, organized crime, paramilitary forces 300, 305, 320, 322, 380, 382 Kenya, West Africa, Latin America present |
| url | http://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/afsp/article/view/782 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT moritzschuberth theimpactofdrugtraffickingoninformalsecurityactorsinkenya AT moritzschuberth impactofdrugtraffickingoninformalsecurityactorsinkenya |