Purpose of the Study: This study examined the role of diplomatic interventions in enhancing border security along the Kenya–Somalia borderlands between 2010 and 2025. It sought to determine the effectiveness of bilateral and multilateral diplomatic engagements in addressing terrorism, illicit arms trafficking, irregular migration, and organised transnational crime within the volatile border region. Methodology: The study adopted an exploratory research design using a mixed-methods approach. Primary data were collected from 187 respondents, including diplomats, government officials, security personnel, regional organisation representatives, and policy experts. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, while qualitative data from interviews and policy documents underwent thematic analysis for interpretation. Findings: The findings revealed that diplomatic interventions significantly enhanced border security between Kenya and Somalia. About 82% of respondents confirmed that diplomacy effectively addressed cross-border security challenges, while 80% agreed that bilateral and regional agreements strengthened intelligence-sharing and joint security operations. Additionally, 87% rated Kenya–Somalia diplomatic engagements as effective in countering terrorism and related threats. However, challenges such as bureaucratic delays, political tensions, resource limitations, and inconsistent policy implementation hindered the full effectiveness of diplomatic initiatives. Conclusion: The study concludes that diplomacy is a critical and sustainable complement to military strategies in enhancing Kenya–Somalia border security. Institutionalised diplomatic mechanisms, strengthened bilateral agreements, joint training initiatives, and community-centred security policies are essential for improving regional stability.
Galgallo et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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