The National Security journal is a peer-reviewed academic publication of the National Defence University–Kenya (NDU-K), published under the auspices of the Centre for Security and Strategic Studies. Volume 1, Issue 1 was launched on 1st April 2023. It provides a scholarly platform for rigorous analysis of national, regional, and international security issues. The journal’s scope is deliberately broad and interdisciplinary: it encompasses traditional defence and strategic studies as well as peace and conflict resolution, governance and development, diplomacy, and emerging domains of security (e.g., cybersecurity, technology, and human security). The Journal aims to disseminate vibrant, promising, and multidisciplinary cutting-edge research in the broad field of security, development, strategy, national interest, and policy. Each issue is thematic, reflecting current challenges. By bridging theoretical scholarship and policy relevance, the journal seeks to deepen evidence-based dialogue on defence and security.
Call for Papers – Volume 4, Issue 2
The National Security Journal invites submissions on Civilian Protection in Tech-Enabled Warfare.
Abstract deadline: 11 June 2026 | Full paper: 17 July 2026. Visit our website for details.
This issue’s central theme is “Mental Health, National Security, and Sustainable Development.” Traditionally, people have viewed the security of the state primarily through the lens of military capabilities and territorial integrity. However, this volume's scholarly contributions call for a paradigm shift. They argue that the foundation of national stability and sustainable development rests on the cognitive resilience of the population and the integrity of the institutions that govern them.
A significant theme addresses the connection between mental health, human security, and societal cohesion. This exploration ranges from the psychological well-being of KDF (Kenya Defence Forces) widows to the resilience of police officers through healing-centred approaches. Our contributors highlight how unresolved trauma can silently undermine stability. Research conducted on mental health vulnerabilities as a pathway to radicalization in Nairobi reveals a critical component of how extremist actors exploit cognitive precarity. These insights, supported by comparative analyses from Nepal, underline the importance of mental health as a fundamental component of human security infrastructure.
This volume explores the digital and fiscal dimensions of governance. It examines the “strategy–practice gap” in Rwanda’s digital diplomacy, which serves as a cautionary example for African nations navigating the fourth industrial revolution. Domestically, this discussion is complemented by an analysis of Gen Z’s resistance to the Finance Bill 2024, where the interaction of psychosocial factors and fiscal legitimacy challenged traditional ideas of stakeholder inclusion. These movements show that people closely tie fiscal legitimacy to their perceptions of public value. Additionally, we address the legal and environmental aspects of strategic governance, advocating for rehabilitative approaches to compliance, rather than solely punitive measures.
