Role of intelligence led policing on counter-terrorism measures in Kamukunji sub-county, Nairobi county, Kenya

Abstract

Counter-terrorism and anti-terrorism operations and activities need close coordination between the intelligence agencies and the police as some terrorists will require to be processed for justice in criminal courts, others are handled with forces of the military or covert and overt actions. In the past years, very vital steps have been adopted to promote more close cooperation between the two communities, but some hold the belief that acts of terror may have been promoted by persistent poor exchange of information between law enforcement and intelligence agencies and the organizational responsibility blurred lines. The study sought to evaluate the role of intelligence led policing on counter- terrorism measures within the Kamukunji Sub-County, Nairobi County. The study specific objectives were: assess the levels of ILP utilization on counter-terrorism activities, analyze how security intelligence has influenced decision making on counter- terrorism activities and explore the major challenges being experienced in the adoption of intelligence led policing within Kamukunji Sub-county. This study was grounded on Systems Theory, Contingency Theory and Routine Activity Theory to bring out the true picture of the phenomenon in a theoretical context. The target population for this study were National Police Service (NPS) officers selected from Police Stations, Patrol Bases and Police Posts who are directly or indirectly involved in fighting crime; and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) officers. The sample size of the study was 74 respondents utilizing 30% of the target population. The study adopted stratified random sampling technique and purposive sampling that enabled the researcher to capture the desired data across the different ranks available which makes the population to have several sub groups; the study utilized the questionnaire and interview instruments to collect data and it consisted of the questions items formed from the research objectives, questions, and hypotheses. The study noted that intelligence led policing as a proactive crime management and counter-terrorism was being under-utilized within the study area. Majority of the terror attacks were being blame on poor intelligence planning, collection and dissemination of vital intelligence information for the purpose of strategic, tactical and operational counter-terrorism response. The study also noted shortage of intelligence analysts within the sub-county since majority are the based at the County headquarters making the study area to be vulnerable to terror threats. The study shows that the police officers utilize criminal intelligence both for proactive and reactive purpose but with high frequency in reactive policing. It thus noted that there is still lack of understanding by the officers on how to maximize on the utilization of criminal intelligence especially for proactive counter-terrorism measures. It also noted that the officers are conversant with the intelligence-led policing though their roles in the approach are not clearly defined within Kamukunji Sub-county. This study recommends that decentralization of the intelligence analysts from the County Headquarter closer to the decision makers at divisional levels either by clustering several divisions or to individual divisions to foster deeper understanding of the criminal environment, concentration, creation of local-based intelligence data base and timely dissemination of intelligence to the concern officers.