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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 2
Publication Date: February 25, 2021
DOI:10.14738/assrj.82.9787.
Kinyanzui, J. W. K., Mwangi, W., & Mwaeke, P. (2021). Functionality of Kenya Prisons Service in Managing Terrorist Prison Criminal Group
Activities at Kamiti Maximum Prison in Nairobi, Kenya. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(2) 611-622.
Functionality of Kenya Prisons Service in Managing Terrorist Prison
Criminal Group Activities at Kamiti Maximum Prison in Nairobi, Kenya
Jane Waithira Kimani Kinyanzui
Student, Department of Peace Security
Social Sciences, Egerton University, Kenya
Wokabi Mwangi
Department of Peace Security
Social Sciences, Egerton University, Kenya
Panuel Mwaeke
Department of Peace Security
Social Sciences, Egerton University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Prisons all over the world have become the ‘epicenter’ of terrorist groups
activities that include violent extremism, radicalization and recruitments into
terrorist prison criminal groups. Although many scholars, especially in Kenya,
have not scratched this area, the fact remains that prisons have become a
center of terrorist recruitment, strengthening, interconnecting, organizing, and
conducting terrorist actions with subjects outside of prison. This study,
therefore, was designed to evaluate the Kenya Prisons Service's functionality in
managing Terrorist Prison criminal group Activities at Kamiti Maximum
Prison. Three objectives focused this study; to examine the nature of available
Terrorist Prison Criminal Groups Management strategies at the institution; to
identify the anti-Terrorist Prison Criminal Groups Management gaps, and
finally, to identify activities associated with Terrorist Prison Criminal Groups
at Kamiti Maximum Prison. The paper employed a descriptive research design
and a hybrid methodology where qualitative and quantitative data were
obtained. Results showed that the most embraced terrorist management
techniques were separation/isolation as it allows for close supervision and use
of risk assessment instruments amongst other measures. Results also showed
that clandestine use of internet while in prison was associated with
recruitment of other prisoners into terrorist groups, Islamist militant prison
radicalization, and external influences. The study findings showed that the
main ways to mitigate the Terrorist Prison Criminal Group activities in Kenya
included creating employment opportunities for the youth, creating
rehabilitation programs for terror convicts, and offering education to the
public. Amongst other measures this was perceived as mitigation to reduce
terrorist groups. The study recommended judges and magistrates to only
incarcerate the most serious criminals and prefer non-custodial sentences for
petty offenders. This will better manage radicalization of petty prisoners.
Key words: Inmates, terrorist criminals, Prison, Isolation, Concentration,
Separation.
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol.8, Issue 2, Febraury-2021
INTRODUCTION
This study sought to evaluate the Kenya Prisons Service's functionality in managing
Terrorist Prison criminal group Activities at Kamiti Maximum Prison. According to Kushner
(2004), Prisons worldwide are regarded as the 'epicenter' of criminal organization activity
and terrorist organizations. While such constant global debate has taken place, Kahara
(2017) argued that it is not a modern phenomenon for prisons to be breeding grounds for
radical criminal activities. For example, throughout history, there have been notable
examples of prisons not only acting as recruitment centers, but also headquarters for
religious and ideological extremists. Ami Angell (2011) reported that prisons have the
ability to be perfect breeding grounds for radicalization and terrorism, not only for radicals
to establish violent agendas but for the promotion of proselytism. Comey (2015) also said
that his main concern was not those who had already been suspected and tracked, but all
unknown individuals who might be radicalized. Comey also points out that radical content
is so easy to use online that otherwise "unconnected" individuals have increasing problems
accessing extremist propaganda from their own homes and forming their radical beliefs. In
recent months, incidents like these have been widely recorded across Europe where
radicalized individuals, previously unable to be on the radar of any government, have
carried out ad-hoc terrorist attacks with little to no planning.
Prisons offer a perfect place for State authorities to apply protocols to support the de- radicalization and recovery process; procedures designed to resolve the root factors that
have contributed to the radicalization and the renunciation of their violent ideology
(Drummond, 2002). It is difficult to know how to deal with terrorists in jail and to avoid
recurrence. In Kenya, prison agencies are usually not appropriately prepared to tackle
these issues, and so opportunities for de-radicalizing terrorists are missed. This was found
in numerous studies worldwide (Schneider, 2015). Whitaker (2008) claimed that a
growing proportion of people are imprisoned and ultimately released to the community for
terror - and that the high risk of being re-arrested and re-incarnated worries politicians,
criminologists, and corrections involved (Whitaker, 2008). Neither is Kenya an exception.
Recent estimates show that the number of violent extremist inmates is increasing,
according to the Annual Report 2015 of the Kenya Prisons Service. Although this kind of
research was never systematically examined or investigated, especially in Kenya, it is
known that the cost of such crimes is very high in terms of both public protection and
money used for continued arrest, prosecution, and detention of the same people.
Prisons worldwide have been the "epicenter" of activities of terrorist groups, which include
violent extremism, radicalization, and recruitment into terrorist criminal prison groups.
Kenya's public speech is full of concern that it may affect the Kenya Prisons Service.
Although many scholars, particularly in Kenya, have been eluded by this phenomenon, the
fact remains that prisons have become the epicenter and center of the recruitment of
terrorist groups and where terror-related activities are strengthened, interconnected,
organized, and carried out with the subjects outside jail. The literature available has shown
that detention facilities are not fitted in many countries. While this argument was not
systematically studied and examined, in Kenya, more so, with the speculation that the
prisons in Kenya are not well prepared to conduct activities relating to terrorist groups.