The fourth point: An examination of the influence of Kenyan Somalis in Somalia

The consequences of insecurity in Somalia to the government of Kenya and its citizens is well documented: massive flows of refugees since the collapse of the Siyad Barre regime in 1991; cross-border violence including poaching, cattlerustling, kidnappings, and trafficking of illegal goods; and, lately, threats of attacks and jihad from al-Shabaab, the terrorist group which is aligned with Osama bin Laden and, therefore, al-Qaeda. The lack of security and a viable|government in Somalia continue to threaten the sovereignty and security of Kenya. As policymakers, military officials, and academics attempt to find solutions to the failed state of Somalia, another dimension of the problem (but also a potential avenue for useful exploration) warrants academic attention and insight - namely, examination of the ethnic Somali populations outside of Somalia and their influence on the politics (and lack thereof) within Somalia|itself. This article offers an initial analysis of one subset of the Somali people outside Somalia, Kenyan Somalis