Evolving Dynamics of Security Partnerships with Kenya Workshop

In early October of 2025, a BIEA-funded workshop on “Evolving Dynamics of Security Partnerships with Kenya” was hosted at the National Defence College – Kenya (NDU-K) to bring together scholars and practitioners to engage deeply on the topic. Thirteen participants were able to attend the event in Nairobi, with two engaging remotely from Morocco and Zimbabwe.

The workshop was based on the observation that Kenya’s role in international security is undergoing a profound transformation, moving beyond traditional counter-terrorism assistance to a multi-aligned strategic posture. This project examines the evolving dynamics of Kenya’s security partnerships in the context of renewed great-power competition and changing domestic priorities. It analyzes this shift through four lenses: Kenya’s evolving role in peacekeeping and regional mediation (e.g., Somalia, Haiti); the interplay of domestic governance (e.g., the 2010 Constitution) and external geopolitical trends (e.g., U.S. MAGA movement) on policy; the recalibration from a traditional client to an East African security broker; and the emergence of new, technology-driven threats like cybersecurity and critical infrastructure vulnerability. By drawing on leading scholarship and policy expertise, this effort offers a novel framework for understanding Kenya’s rise as a dynamic security partner and its implications for national, regional, and global stability by incorporating both technology threats and non-western perspectives.

Revised papers have been consolidated for a book proposal that is in draft form as of March 2026. The proposed book critically engages with the historical trajectory, current trends, and strategic implications of security partnerships involving Kenya. For decades, Kenya has been central to regional security and counterterrorism, but recent global geopolitical shifts, renewed great-power competition, and changing domestic security priorities have significantly transformed its relationships with both traditional and emerging security partners.

“Kenya is actively recalibrating its foreign policy”

This envisioned edited volume will analyze Kenya’s transition from primarily a recipient of foreign aid in the War on Terror era, to a more strategic and self-assured security actor. The book argues that Kenya is actively recalibrating its foreign policy, leveraging diverse partnerships – including with traditional Western powers and emerging players like China, Turkey, and Gulf States – to move from a passive client to an active security partnership hub in East Africa. It will uniquely integrate analysis of these geopolitical shifts with the growing challenges of technology-driven risks, such as cybersecurity, AI, and critical infrastructure vulnerability (e.g., submarine communication cables).

The workshop allowed academic, government, and practitioner experts to engage deeply on the topics above and built a strong network of stakeholders across the continent. Attendees remain deeply grateful to BIEA for the support of the project.