Kenya- Uganda cooperation in management of transnational security threats in the Mt. Elgon borderlands 1970 - 2023

Abstract

The study assesses the cooperation between Kenya and Uganda in managing transnational security threats from Uganda in Mt Elgon, Kenya. The existing literature has addressed national and regional institutional policies on trans-border security threats; however, there are significant gaps in knowledge about Kenya-Uganda cooperation initiatives for managing transnational security threats in Mt. Elgon. The research was guided by three specific objectives: to examine how Mt. Elgon’s transnational borderland is discursively constituted as an area of security threats; to analyse the presence of institutional cooperation on transnational security threats; and to analyse the impact of Kenya-Uganda interstate management of trans-border security threats on the grassroots of Mt Elgon. The research was guided by two theories: the institutionalization theory by Meyer and Rowan, which explains the establishment and factors that influence the operation of an institution; and the securitization theory by Barry Buzan, which posits that through an act of speech, an issue is securitized. The study adopted a within-case study of the process tracing variant and was anchored on an interpretivism paradigm, mainly institutionalism (historical and discursive). The target population of the research was the residents of Mt. Elgon Constituency who have been affected by trans-national security threats. The sample frame was: one Deputy County Commissioner, two Assistant County Commissioners, four chiefs, two village administrators, six Nyumba Kumi chairmen, fifteen security officers, and fourteen residents. Sampling for the study was done through purposive sampling, and the sample of the study was 44. The data was collected through an interview guide with semi-structured questions and Focus Group Discussion sessions. Forty-three (43) respondents were interviewed, and one (1) Focus Group Discussion with nine respondents was held in the Cheptais Ward in Mt. Elgon constituency. The unit of observation was the local community members above 40 years and administrative and security government officials. The data collected was analysed thematically. The research findings showed that the Mount Elgon borderland is discursively constructed as a region that experiences trans national security threats facilitated by corruption and porous borders. The security threats include cattle rustling from the early 1970s and stock theft since the 2000s; the threats also include acts of smuggling of illegal small arms and light weapons such as bullets and guns; additionally, there was poaching of elephants, technological theft of primary school laptops and medicines; others reported as smuggled were an assortment of contraband goods such as polythene bags, cigarettes, and alcohol. The findings also showed that Kenya and Uganda cooperate through administrative institutions by conducting security committee meetings annually, and also through police cooperation by INTERPOL. Finally, the findings showed that Kenya-Uganda cooperation has improved the peaceful coexistence of border communities in both countries; this was especially seen in the area of robust communication on security threats. The study concludes that the inter-state cooperation has sought to mitigate the trans-national security threats, although there is room for improvement. The study recommends that the Government should make efforts to curb corruption to reduce the flow of contraband goods at the Chepkube Border. The government should also strengthen security institutions by providing facilities to monitor and control security activities at the Mt. Elgon Borderland; finally, both governments of Kenya and Uganda should open a customs point in Mt Elgon; this would reduce the use of illegal routes by persons from both sides of the border.