An Examination of the Kenyan Objectives Related to the Government’s Management of Boundary Disputes with Somalia on the Maritime Boundary

Abstract

Kenyan foreign policy on the maritime boundary dispute with Somalia is an integral part of regional peace, security and development in East Africa region. Kenya and Somalia have had a history of boundary disputes right from 1963 where Somalia government pursued the irredentist interest in the region specifically in Ogaden region in Ethiopia and in the Northern Frontier District in Kenya. The Memorandum of understanding between Kenya and Somalia over the maritime dispute was signed in 2009. Having sidelined the MoU and Somalia taking Kenya to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2014 gives this research more ground to demystify the main reasons or objectives why Kenya seems to be so much interested in resolving this dispute in the disputed region in the Indian Ocean in an out of court arrangement. Using available literature on how Kenya is going about on the dispute it is embroiled in with Somalia over the maritime boundary, the study seeks to measure the objectives of Kenya in relation to the government’s management of boundary disputes with Somalia on the maritime boundary. This study used qualitative method of data collection and made use of secondary methods of data collection. This data was retrieved from journal article, books on the dispute, magazines discussing about the ongoing dispute, government websites, recoded interviews of important persons handling the dispute and from United Nations documents.  The findings indicate that Kenya is trying to protect her national interests in the ongoing territorial interests. In light of the findings, the research recommends a strong utilization of public diplomacy between the two states which will lessen the tension using the citizens of the two states. This can be through appealing to each other cultures and offering a win-win deal in the contested areas.

Keywords: Kenyan Objectives, Management, Maritime Boundary

DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/101-03

Publication date:March 31^st 2024