Early Exit Implications on Bilateral Relations between Troop-Contributing Country and Host Nation: A Case of Kenya Military Contingents in Democratic Republic of Congo

This study sought to explore the KENCON troops’ exit and its implication on bilateral relations between Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The study was primarily qualitative with the main data collection tools being an interview guide and a document analysis guide. This data was thematically analyzed. The findings identified effects such as; strengthened economic ties, improved relations; the exit served as an indicator of a lack of interference in the DRC matter; enhanced political and diplomatic relations; future regional and international partnerships, and finally; public perception and domestic politics. Finally, the study concluded while the implications of the KENCON troops’ exit are both positive and negative, the positive ones outweigh the negative ones in number and it will generally depend on how Kenya handles the implications if and when they occur. The study also recommended that similar studies be carried out with a view of including larger samples of respondents from the affected areas where the KENCON troops were carrying out their operations.