Dr Makena Micheni

I am a Kenyan-British scholar who completed my PhD at the London School of Economics on the role of ethnicity in extremist groups in Africa. I previously worked as an Associate Lecturer in International Relations at the University of St Andrews before joining Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford.

My research interests include: political violence, radicalisation, extremism, ethnicity, terrorism, insurgency and armed groups, state violence, state terrorism, civilian resistance, decolonial approaches, critical IR, gender and political violence, conflict and security, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, foreign policy, intervention.

Micheni. M, ‘Combatant Experiences in Multi-Ethnic Extremist Groups Identity and Allegiance in Boko Haram, Routledge, 2025.

Mutahi. N, Micheni. M, Lake. M, (2023), The Godfather Provides: Enduring corruption and organizational hierarchy in the Kenyan Police Service, Governance Vol 36, Issue 2.