Kenya Conditions, Issues and U.S. Relations

This book focuses on the current political and security issues with the U.S. and Kenya relations. The U.S. government views Kenya as a strategic partner and anchor state in East Africa, and as critical to counter-terrorism efforts in the region. Kenya has repeatedly been a target of terrorist attacks, and, as the September 2013 attack on an upscale Nairobi shopping mall underscores, terrorist threats against international and domestic targets in Kenya remain a serious concern. Kenya has enjoyed a long history of economic leadership in East Africa as the largest and most advanced economy in the region. However, ethnically-charged post-election violence left approximately 1,200 dead and 600,000 displaced. This book discusses the serious concerns regarding corruption and governance in Kenya while also exploring neighbouring countries, which have maintained higher growth rates and more political stability.