The Nexus Between Organised Crime and Terrorism in Kenya : A Mixed-Evidence Approach

While the global crime-terror nexus is extensively established, this study reveals a paradigm shift in Kenya: the emergence of fluid hybrid players who go beyond classic "alliance" or "convergence" models. Using unparalleled fieldwork and digital ethnography, the research shows how Al-Shabaab and Kenyan organised crime syndicates co-evolve into decentralised networks that use digital platforms (cryptocurrency, encrypted applications) and environmental crimes (charcoal, wildlife trafficking) to avoid detection. Crucially, the study identifies corruption networks inside border security and port officials as the key enablers of this nexus, a component overlooked in previous research. By examining understudied incidents, such as the 2023 Mombasa arms raid linked to Al-Shabaab's digital payment systems and the illegal charcoal trade supporting jihadist levies, we show Kenya's role as a microcosm of 21st-century transnational security threats. The study findings challenge static policy frameworks, advocating for integrated financial-intelligence fusion cells and AI-driven border monitoring to disrupt criminal governance. This research redefines the crime-terror paradigm in Africa, offering a template for Global South security strategies.