Abstract
Though Kenya has played a certain role in the Horn of Africa conflict, many analysts have overlooked it. This paper, however, traces Kenya's role in the Somali -Ethiopian conflict since the 1960s. Kenya's position has shifted from consistently supporting Ethiopia against Somalia in the 1960s and 1970s, to seeking political accommodation with Somalia in the 1980s. Kenya's role has been determined mainly by the need to secure her borders, her fear of Soviet influence in the region , the extent of American influence on her, and the need to widen the market for her goods. The problem is that, if Somali -Kenyan rapprochement is aimed at isolating Ethiopia, it may result in pushing the latter closer to Moscow and thus enhance the Soviet position in the area. The author concludes that the best thing for the three countries to do is to meet, discuss and settle their differences within the framework of the Organisation of African Unity.