Implications of Internal Security Operations on Mental Health of Civilians in Kapedo, Turkana County, Kenya 2011-2020
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Date
2024
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Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate implications of internal security operations on mental health of civilians in Kapedo, Turkana County, Kenya. The contention of the study is that internal security operations continue to attract the attention of scholars globally. This study therefore, seeks to contribute to the debates on mental health consequences of internal security operations on civilians by examining the frequency of the internal operations, the type and intensity of force used during the intervention, the number officers deployed in each operation, the mental health consequences of the operations and community perspectives on the operations. Related literature on internal operations whether military or police and mental health effects of armed conflicts was reviewed to inform this study. Theories used to underpin the study were the human security theory and conflict transformation theory. The research utilized a combination of primary and secondary sources. Quantitative and qualitative techniques including use of questionnaires and interviews were employed to collect and analyze data from respondents and informants. The sample size was 190 participants. The study concluded that, Kenya has in many occasions sanctioned internal security operations where the military, police and other security agencies are deployed to deal with rising waves of banditry, cattle rustling in the North Rift. At many times, these internal security operations are executed with deadly force and other strategies short war. The type of force used, its frequency and strategy have both direct and indirect mental health consequences on civilians. These effects manifest in an array of psychosocial symptoms. Study concludes that internal security operations pose a high risk of causing psychosocial problems on civilians in conflict zones. Therefore, there is need for the government to introduce and revamp psychosocial management strategies as component of civilians-police relation during internal security operations.
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Citation
Munuve, R. W & Ichani, X. F. (2024). Implications of Internal Security Operations on Mental Health of Civilians in Kapedo, Turkana County, Kenya 2011-2020. Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies, 8(5), 5 – 25.