Assessing the Implications of Great Power Competition in The Horn of Africa on Kenya’s National Security Interests, 2010 to 2022

This article assesses the implication of great powers competition in the Horn of Africa (HoA) region on Kenya’s national security interests in the period between 2010 to 2022. The article further proffers strategies that the country may adopt to address the challenges and opportunities arising from the rivalry in the region. The essay moreover adopted realism theory of international relations as the theoretical lens to explain great power competition in the HoA region and the impact it had on Kenya’s national security interest. In regard to the methodology, this article employed a qualitative research design to collect and analyse data. The data which was collected from key informant interviews and focus discussion groups was analyzed thematically. The research determined that relationships existed between great power competition in the HoA region and Kenya’s national security interests. Further, the study showed that there were multiple dimensions to comprehending Kenya’s national security interests within the context of great power rivalry in the region. The article concluded that the hegemonic rivalry in the region impacted on Kenya’s national security interests, and thereby recommended the need for Kenya to continually develop strategies to mitigate against the aforesaid in addition to maximizing on the resultant opportunities. Key Words: Great Power Competition, Horn of Africa, National Security Interests