Terrorism and Human Rights in Kenya - Dissertation Example

?Research Proposal on Terrorism and Human Rights in Kenya 1 Background and Problem ment Human Rights in Kenya have gone through a lot of evolution over the years. Broadly, mention can be made of the post independence and new constitutional eras. Human rights in the post independence era did not see much light of the day because attempts to protect the fundamental human rights of people were thwarted by civil war. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (2011) reports with reference to the new constitutional dispensation however that Kenyans “have all embraced one another in not only endorsing the new draft constitution but also in appreciating that we are still one country and we should do everything to ensure its prosperous perpetuity.” This statement confirms the zeal with which all Kenyans love to uphold their human rights through the constitution. This not withstanding, terrorism is gradually emerging to be one major setback to the protection of human rights in Kenya. This situation has created a situation that is best described by Karanja (2003) who states that “The word terrorism sends a cold chill down the spine of every Kenyan.” Indeed as far as terrorism is concerned, one attack is not small enough to be neglected. This is because acts of terrorism come with so much emotional and psychological traumas; not to talk of physical pain and agony, loss of property and most unfortunately death of human beings. Even as these negative effects of terrorism affect humanity and more specifically residents of Kenya, one other area of concern that has gained so much prominence and come to the table of discussion is the issue of human rights of people in Kenya who suffer in the various events of terrorists attacks. In 1956, 1998 and 2002, Kenya suffered various degrees of terrorist bombings of which Kenya suffered catastrophic effects. Not quite unusual, Kenya responded to these bombings with counter-terrorism. These counter terrorisms however worsened Kenya’s plight: especially that of ordinary citizens as their human right protection and general security came under threat. It is against this background that this research has been set off to investigate the relationship between terrorism and human rights issues in Kenya. It is against this background that this research has been set off to investigate the relationship between terrorism and human rights issues in Kenya. The research proposal shall critically analyze the evolution of human rights in Kenya, history of terrorism in Kenya, effects of terrorism in Kenya and finally how the human rights of people can be protected in cases of terrorist attack. 1.2 Hypothesis 1. Islamic fundamentalist is closely linked with recent trend of international terrorism in Kenya. (Otenyo, 2004). 2. Acts of terrorism and counter terrorism in Kenya infringes on the fundamental human rights of people. (Amnesty International, 2006). 3. Terrorism will push the economic growth of Kenya backwards. (Hammer, 2007) 1.3 Research Questions 1. What are the major timeliness and evolutions of human rights issues in Kenya? 2. What are the situational reports of terrorism in Kenya and why has Kenya become a target of terrorism in Africa? 3. How does terrorism infringe on the civil and political rights of Kenyans? 4. How does terrorism impact on the economic development of Kenya and affect the security situation of Kenya negatively? 1.4 Objectives 1.4.1 Main Objective The major aim of this research work is to explore the impact of terrorism on human rights in Kenya looking at both the civil and political rights as well as the impact on the economic development and security in Kenya. 1.4.2 Specific Objectives The achievement of the main objective of the research above can be attained only after a couple of specific objectives have been achieved. These specific objectives are as follows: 1. To discuss the history and evolution of human rights in Kenya 2. To critically analyze the situational reports of terrorism in Kenya, why and how these acts came about and how further terrorism attacks could not be prevented. 3. To analyse how terrorism infringe on the civil and political rights of Kenyans 4. To identify workable ways of protecting the fundamental human rights of ordinary citizens of Kenya even in incidences of terrorism attacks. 5. To find the relationship between terrorism and economic development in Kenya 2.0 Background Literature This background literature is to present the researcher with reliable and empirical information on issues that have been raised in the research question and hypothesis. By and large, there shall be reviews on the areas of human right in Kenya, terrorism in Kenya and impact of terrorism in Kenya. To make the research more concise, each of the three topics or themes shall be discussed in a separate paragraph. Human Rights have been an issue of prominence in Kenya for a very long time. The commission has gone through several phases and changes regarding how it goes about its business. According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (2011), the formative years (1992-1997) of the commission was “focused on monitoring, documenting and publicizing human rights violations.” The history of human rights in Kenya actually dates back to the formative years of the country as an independent state. The protection and promotion of human rights in Kenya is the primary responsibility of the Kenya Human Rights Commission. As the years went by, the commission changed its approach. From the year 1998 to 2003, the commission launched itself into an era where it “made a radical shift in approach in this phase that led us to begin developing capabilities of those affected by human rights problems to advocate for their rights.” Primarily, this phase centered on social and economic rights. As of 2004 to date, the commission has been operating on a strategic that has “focused on strategies and actions aimed at enhancing community driven human rights advocacy, through building of the capacities of citizens to deal with their immediate human rights concerns” (Kenya Human Rights Commission, 2011). Quite apart from the Kenya Human Rights Commission, Nwankwo (2010) observes that there are several other bodies such as International Commission of Jurists-Kenya (ICJ-Kenya), International Federation of Women Lawyers-Kenya [FIDA(K)], Kenya Anti-Rape Organization, Kituo Cha Sheria (Legal Advice Centre), Law Society of Kenya, Legal Education and Aid Programme (LEAP) and Peace Foundation (Africa); all of whom are keen towards ensuring the promotion of human rights in Kenya. Sadly though, as much as the various human rights commissions and organizations try to promote and uphold the fundamental human right of Kenyans there has also been situational accounts of terrorism in Kenya that adversely deprive citizens of their fundamental rights. The CNN (2002) attributes terror attacks in Kenya to their affiliation to the United States. It is no wonder that in the most recent terrorist attack, it was the US embassy that was hit. There is no denying the fact however that, there is no way bombings can take place with direct and indirect effects on Kenyan locals. There are notable reports of terrorism in Kenya such as terror attacks in 1956, 1998 and 2002. In the midst of these attacks, citizens are denied of basic right to life, education, movement and peace. Economically, Zalman notes that “there are direct costs to property and immediate effects on productivity, as well as longer term indirect costs of responding to terrorism.” In cases of terrorist attacks there is so much that the nation of Kenya losses. With the economy of Kenya, which can only be described as a growing one, it becomes disheartening and a very big challenge to governments to ensure economic growth due to terrorists attacks. There is also the negative effect of breach of human rights due to the trauma that people go through in the event of terrorist attack. This is because in events of attacks, governments spend thousands of dollars that could have gone into national development on rehabilitation and restructuring. Finally, the security of the country becomes hampered due to terrorist attacks. Terrorist attacks hamper normal life from going on, restricting people’s movement and other outdoor activities due to fear. Breakdown in security does not only affect inhabitants of Kenya but foreigners who wish to travel to the country. It is not surprising therefore that the Travel News Kenya (2009) states that “It has not stopped any credible threats and it has always been passengers who have been the ones who have been able to reduce or put down the threat.” 3.0 Methodology 3.1 Types and Sources of Data There shall be two major types of data that will be collected in the research work. These forms of data can broadly be grouped into primary and secondary data collection. The primary data collection refers to data that will be collected from the field by the researcher himself without relying on any third person. This is in line with what the Oppaper (2011) states that “Primary research is any type of research that we go out and collect ourselves.” The field to be used will be the country offices of various diplomats and embassies. Officers in these offices have been selected because they are the right people with the most requisite knowledge on human rights and terrorism. They also happen to be people with the most authentic information on economic records on Kenya. The primary data shall also include ordinary citizens for their views on issues of human rights and terrorism. Finally, there shall be secondary data collection from refined sources such as books and internet sources. This is because as The Management Guide Study (2011) explains, “Secondary data is the data that have been already collected by and readily available from other sources.” Because the primary data collection shall be conducted by the researcher, he will be presented with the opportunity to present findings from the primary data sources quantitatively by the use of mathematical representations such as graphs, charts and tables. The secondary data shall however be presented qualitatively through critical appraisal of facts since the sources will not be the original work of the researcher. and shall be coming from. 3.2 Sampling Technique The sampling technique that will be used to collect data from respondents in the primary data collection process shall be in two-fold. The first part shall be made of purposive sampling whereby the researcher shall select respondents based on his own discretion. This sampling technique shall be used to enable the researcher select the most appropriate people with the required knowledge for the research. The second sampling technique shall be made of random sampling technique where the researcher shall select respondents without any foreknowledge on who respondents will be. This is in line with what Koduah (2008) states that “Random sampling is a sampling technique whereby there is no per-determined mentality to include or exclude any member of the population.” 3.3 Data Analysis Data that shall be collected in the research work shall be analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative data analysis shall be done by the use of mathematical presentations shall as charts, graphs and percentage tables. Qualitative data analysis shall however involve the researcher's own judgment on the data collected. These qualitative data analysis shall however be guided by literature reviewed. 4.0 Potential Outcome and Significance of the Study The paper is intended to influence policy at national and regional level on the theory and practice of human rights in Kenya. It is hope that by the end of the research work, much attention shall be drawn unto the effects of terrorism in Kenya as relates to the promotion and protection of human rights of the citizenry, economic development and assurance of security. With such awareness created, the researcher is hopeful that all stakeholders who have various roles to play in checking and stopping terrorism in Kenya would be challenged to task to double their efforts towards their duties. REFERENCE LIST Amnesty International, 2006, ‘Terror and Counter-Terror: Defending our human rights (with amendments)’, retrieved May 22, 2011 CNN, 2002, ‘Kenya’s History of Terrorism’, retrieved May 23, 2011 Hammer J, 2007 ‘The African Front’, retrieved May 23, 2011, The New York Times, Karanja W, 2003, ‘Sleepless Nights in Kenya’, World Press Review. Vol. 50, No. 8, Avaialable on line Kenya Human Rights Commission, 2011, ‘Kenya Human Rights Commission History’, retrieved May 23, 2011 Management Guide Study 2011, Secondary Data, retrieved March 28 2011 Nwankwo C. 2010, ‘The Status of Human Rights Organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa: Kenya’, retrieved May 22, 2011 Oppaper, 2011, Primary Data Collection, retrieved March 26 2011 Otenyo E.E, 2004, ‘NEW TERRORISM: Toward an explanation of cases in Kenya’, African Security Review Vol 13 No 3, 2004. Available on line Travel News Kenya, 2009, ‘he Security Theatre - Negative Effects on Travel?’, retrieved May 19, 2011 Zalman A, 2011, ‘Economic Impact of Terrorism’, retrieved May 2011 Read More