Analysis of stakeholder perception of the Government of Kenya's messaging on the Kenya-Somalia maritime border dispute
Keywords:
effective messaging, government communication, territorial disputes, Kenya-Somalia maritime disputeAbstract
This paper explores the stakeholder perception of the Government of Kenya's messaging on the Kenya-Somalia maritime border dispute (KSMBD). The territorial dispute between Kenya and Somalia has highlighted the significance of the government's clear, transparent, and timely communication. Effective communication and messaging are crucial for ensuring that governments clearly articulate their policies, especially on critical issues of national concern, such as the KSMBD. The dispute touches on Kenya's territorial integrity and sovereignty, making it a core national interest in line with the Kenyan Constitution 2010. The goals of the study were to examine stakeholder perception of the core Government of Kenya (GoK) messages on the KSMBD. The study relied on framing theory, while an exploratory study design guided the methodology. Key findings drawn from key informants and in-depth interviews indicated that government communication lacked a clear strategy. This resulted in incoherent and uncoordinated communication that ultimately affected the GoK response to the maritime border dispute. This paper recommends the need to enhance clear and well-defined strategic communication structures and processes in government, especially when communicating on issues of national importance.
References
Aoi, C. (2018). Japanese Strategic Communication: Its Signifi cance as a Political Tool. Defence Strategic Communications, 3(1), 71–101. https://doi.org/10.30966/2018.riga.3.3
Chang, C. T., & Lee, Y. K. (2009). Framing charity advertising: Influences of message framing, image valence, and temporal framing on a charitable appeal. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 39(12), 2910–2935. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2009.00555.x
Chong, D., & Druckman, J. N. (2007). Framing theory. Annual Review of Political Science, 10, 103–126. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.10.072805.103054
Edelman. (2019). Review of International Practices in Government Communications (Issue June). https://www.ops.gov.ie/app/uploads/2019/11/3.4.5-Resources-document-Review-of-International-Practices_Edelman-SENT-1308.pdf
Entman, R. M. (1993). Framing: Toward Clarifi cation of a Fractured Paradigm. Journal of Communication, 43(4), 51–58. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1993.tb01304.x
Goffman, E. (1974). Frame Analysis: An Essay on the Organisation of Experience. Northeastern University Press.
Government of Canada. (2016). Policy on Communications and Federal Identity-Canada.ca. https://www.tbs-sct.canada.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=30683
Gregory, A. (2019). UK Government Communication: The Cameron years and their ongoing legacy. Public Relations Review, 45(2), 202–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2018.08.003
Grunig, L. A., Grunig, J. A., & Dozier., D. M. (2002). Excellent Public Relations and effective organizations A Study of Communication Management in Three Countries. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., Publishers.
Gunawan, Y., Salim, A. A., Asirwadana, E., & Prasetyo, S. B. (2021). Perspective of International Law on Maritime Dispute: Case Between Kenya and Somalia. Jurnal Hukum, 37(2), 69. https://doi.org/10.26532/jh.v37i2.16241
Hallahan, K. (2000). Enhancing Motivation, Ability, and Opportunity to Process Public Relations Messages. Public Relations Review, 26(4), 463–480. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0363-8111(00)00059-X
Hallahan, K. (2008). Strategic Framing. Suggested Alternate Head: Framing, Strategic. The International Encyclopedia of Communication, 4855–4860.
Hallahan, K., Holtzhausen, D., van Ruler, B., Verčič, D., & Sriramesh, K. (2007). Defining Strategic Communication. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 1(1), 3–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/15531180701285244
Hamasi, L., & Ichani, X. (2022). Kenya-Somalia Maritime Border Dispute: Genesis, Prospects and Challenges. In R. Bereketeab & ulf J. Dahre (Eds.), Current Developments, Peace and Stability in the Horn of Africa. Somalia International Rehabilitation Centre (SIRC) & Terra Nullius Publishing.
Hasan, M. M., Jian, H., Alam, M. W., & Chowdhury, K. M. A. (2019). Protracted maritime boundary disputes and maritime laws. Journal of International Maritime Safety, Environmental Affairs, and Shipping, 2(2), 89–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/25725084.2018.1564184
HM Government. (2022). Performance with Purpose Government Communication Service Strategy. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4349-0_15
HORN International Institute. (2019). Maritime Border Challenges and Implications on Security: The Kenya-Somalia Dispute in Perspective An Experts ’ Symposium September 2019 (Issue September).
John Migui, W., Kemunto, N. D., & Kiamba, D. A. (2022). An analysis of Kenya-Somalia Maritime Territorial Dispute in IR perspective. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 06(11), 350–355. https://doi.org/10.47772/ijriss.2022.61121
Kim, D. K. D., & Kreps, G. L. (2020). An Analysis of Government Communication in the of shared resources as an alternative approach for addressing maritime boundary disputes: the Kenya-Somalia maritime boundary dispute. Journal of the Indian Ocean Region, 16(September), 348–370.
Kiguru, J. (2021). Internal Dynamics Affecting Kenya ’ s Diplomatic Leverage in the Kenya – Somalia Maritime Boundary Dispute. March, 1–9.
Kim, D. K. D., & Kreps, G. L. (2020). An Analysis of Government Communication in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations for Effective Government Health Risk Communication. World Medical and Health Policy, 12(4), 398–412. https://doi.org/10.1002/wmh3.363
LaMarre, H. L. (2017). Strategic Storytelling Narrative messaging in Entertainment and Emergent Media. In A. Dudo & L. Kahlor (Eds.), Strategic Communication New Agendas in Communication (pp. 20–41). Routledge.
Lambert, M. J. (2022). Shaping the Message: An analysis of U.S. National Security Strategy Message Framing by the Government and Media. National Defense University.
Liu, B. F., & Levenshus, A. B. (2013). Opportunities,challenges and trends in US federal government communication. In K. B. Sanders & M. Canel (Eds.), Government Communication.” Government Communication: Cases and Challenges (pp. 59–78). Routledge.
Mumma-Martinon. (2019). Kenya-Somalia maritime territorial dispute: why Somalia took Kenya to the international court of justice, advantages, limitations and existing modes of peaceful settlement? University of Nairobi.
Ngirachu, J. K. (2020). Coverage of the Big Four Agenda in the Daily Nation and The Standard newspapers in Kenya [The Aga Khan University]. https://ecommons.aku.edu/theses_dissertations/907
OECD. (2021). OECD Report on Public Communication: The Global Context and the Way Forward,. OECD Publishing, Paris.
Okonkwo, T. (2017). Maritime Boundaries Delimitation and Dispute Resolution in Africa. Beijing Law Review, 08(01), 55–78. https://doi.org/10.4236/blr.2017.81005
Østhagen, A. (2020). Maritime boundary disputes: What are they and why do they matter? Marine Policy, 120(March). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104118
Owino, R. (2022). Government Communication: a Critical Analysis of the Strategic Dimensions of the Central National Government Communication in Kenya. International Journal of Communication and Public Relation, 7(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.47604/ijcpr.1460
Pamba, E. J. (2017). The Kenya-Somalia Maritime Boundary Dispute Threatens Kenya’s Regional Transport and Logistics Hub Ambitions. Horn Institute.
Strating, R. (2022). Norm contestation, statecraft and the South China Sea: defending maritime order. Pacific Review, 35(1), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/09512748.2020.1804990
Vuving, A. (2019). China’s Strategic Messaging What It Is, How It Works, and How to Respond to It. In China’s Global Infl uence: Perspectives and Recomendations (pp. 160–173). Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.
Walker, T. (2015). Why Africa must resolve its maritime boundary disputes. Institute for Security Studies, Policy Bri (October), 1–8.
WPP (2017). The Leaders’ Report: The future of government communication, WPP Government & Public Sector Practice, https://govt practicewpp.com/report/the-leaders-report-the-future-of-government communication-2/(accessed on 23 May 2024).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The Eastern Africa Journal of Policy and Strategy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The East African Journal of Policy and Strategy is a publication of the Global Centre for Policy and Strategy (GLOCEPS). Our content is disseminated on Open Access Terms.
