Investigative Intelligence Aspect of Preparedness of First Responders Influence on Efficacious Response to Terrorists Attack

Inefficacious response to terrorists attack in Nairobi county is regularly evident in accounts of inadequate preparedness of response organization. Infighting, incompetence and long duration taken for response in the face of attacks is recurring and costs for not having addressed their preparedness level are high, persistent instability of the city through threats deterring investment, loss of life of both Responders and citizens and destruction of property. Breaking this vested interest that undermines efforts to effective response, response organizations will require to address on issue of preparedness. The objective of this study was to interrogate on investigative intelligence aspect of preparedness of First Responders influence on efficacious response to terrorists attack in Nairobi county, Kenya. The study was guided by resource dependency and systems theories. The study employed a descriptive survey design and the target population consisted of both state actors and non-state actors, First Responders to terrorists attack. Kenya Police (General Service Unit and Anti-Terror Police Unit), National Intelligence Service, hospitals, St John's Ambulance and fire brigades were randomly sampled. While purposive sampling was used to select key informants and FGD. In the total, the sample respondents were 203. Primary data was collected through interviews, questionnaires while secondary data was collected from books, internet, journals and newspapers. Validity was determined using content validity while reliability was done using test re-test method. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistic and it was presented in form of tables and charts. Study findings indicated that intelligence is an important aspect in pre-empting terrorists attack leading to effective preparedness to terrorist attacks. The study further indicated that inappropriate analytical framework, inadequate structure to engage the community intelligence, poor cooperation with other First Responders agencies and limited interagency coordination were the main challenges contributing to intelligence failure.The study recommends that government needs to commit more resources toward investigative intelligence and also response organization should sensitize members of the public to cooperate with government in giving information that can help in intelligence gathering to facilitate preparedness of first responders.