The National Defence University-Kenya (NDU-K) is strengthening the editorial capacity of its National Security Journal (NSJ) to elevate the quality and influence of defence and security scholarship, amplify research-driven strategic thought, and ensure that knowledge generated informs policy, shapes national security discourse and advances strategic leadership.

The initiative seeks to position the journal as a leading platform for scholarly inquiry and evidence-based policy discourse, reinforcing the University’s core mandate of Education, Training, Research and Innovation. Through rigorous research publication, the journal provides a vital link between academic knowledge, professional practice and strategic decision-making, enabling scholars, security practitioners and policymakers to interrogate emerging threats and contribute to solutions to contemporary security challenges.

The National Security Journal also supports professional military education, promotes innovation in strategic thinking and provides an avenue for translating research into knowledge that informs policy and practice. Its growing scholarly standing is therefore integral to NDU-K’s role in advancing strategic leadership and thought in support of national security and development.

To advance this role, NDU-K is conducting an Editorial Board Capacity Development programme focused on strengthening editorial governance, improving publishing standards and enhancing the journal’s visibility and recognition nationally, regionally and internationally.

Speaking during the official opening, NDU-K Vice-Chancellor Lieutenant General David Tarus underscored the importance of credible scholarly publications in advancing intellectual leadership, generating evidence to inform policymaking and enriching discourse on defence and security matters.

He noted that the University’s specialised mandate extends beyond generating knowledge to ensuring that research is rigorously examined, published and translated into policy and practice. He emphasised that the quality, credibility and influence of an academic journal depend significantly on the competence, commitment and integrity of its editorial leadership.

The Vice-Chancellor urged the Editorial Board to use the programme to review existing processes, identify institutional and operational gaps, adopt international best practices and develop practical interventions to strengthen the journal’s governance, quality assurance and visibility.

The programme covers key areas of scholarly publishing, including journal positioning, editorial governance, policy development, manuscript management, peer-review systems, research integrity, indexing, internationalisation and strategies for expanding readership and scholarly impact.

Through this initiative, NDU-K seeks to strengthen the National Security Journal as an influential scholarly resource that connects education, training, research and innovation with the evolving demands of defence, security and strategic leadership.