The securitization of civil society organizations, Islamism, and counter-terrorism in Kenya

What is it about?

This chapter examines the way in which civil society organizations in Kenya that advocate the rights of Muslims are targets of state-led counter-terrorism measures by constructing them as threats to the war on terror and national security. The state has securitized such organizations so as to prioritize them as targets of counter-terrorism policy. The chapter pays attention to two prominent human rights non-governmental organizations namely HAKI Africa and Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI).

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Why is it important?

The findings of the article demonstrate that the securitization of these organizations has undermined their institutional capacity to achieve their objectives of protecting the rights of Muslims disproportionately affected by the global war on terror. The securitization, in particular, has impacted upon their ability to protect the rights of Muslims affected by counter-terrorism hard approaches. It is important to note that the adverse impact of externally induced counter-terrorism measures upon domestic civil society organisations is universal and contextual.