Agency develops new strategy to fight violent extremism

Police officers during the terror attack on Westgate Mall in Nairobi. [File, Standard] The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has developed a new strategy to prevent and counter violent extremism. The strategy was reviewed by stakeholders drawn from across the country at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on October 28, 2024. After this, it will be taken to the National Security Council for review before it is taken to President William Ruto for launch. The team toured over 20 counties across the country to collect views from Kenyans on how to tackle emerging threats. "The key component of this new strategy is the youth," said the NCTC Director General Kigen Kipyego. Kipyego explained that the previous strategy was generalised and the new one has an expanded definition of what violent extremism is and how it takes place. The Nairobi Region Coordinator Katee Mwanza said that the government was also seeking to engage neighbouring countries in implementation of the strategy. Mwanza regretted that the vice affects all countries and recruiters target youth from all over, and in the event of carrying out violent acts, they affect all people. "We will be implementing them (strategy) through a whole government - whole society approach through the multiagency - multisectoral approach, which has helped bring the threats down," he said. He said that if the strategy was to be employed by Kenya and her neighbours then the region would have done a lot to prevent violent extremism. "I am happy we realised that it was important in determining the nexus in the violent extremism and the need for change since the implementors also keep changing with times," he said. Mwanza appealed to people working in the social, religious, and economic sectors to join hands in preventing and countering violent extremism. "Those who indoctrinate and those who execute belong to diverse ages," he said. Mohamed Khalif from Wajir county urged youths to take responsibility and join efforts to counter and prevent violent extremism. "The education of people on the good use of the internet will help reduce the cases of recruitment," he said. A participant from West Pokot said the document was a step in the right direction in finding lasting peace and security within Kenya and along the borders. Another participant from Mombasa described the strategy as a wonderful document since youth were involved in the decision-making. She said youths are at risk of being recruited hence the need to involve them in the fight against extremism. "If we are not involved at the end of the day, we are the ones who are going to disrupt peace." Samantha Mahaga, an artiste, commended the government for employing arts in the fight against violent extremism. She said that the involvement of youth in decision-making at all levels will help curb the vice and will go a long way in educating them on the effects of extremism. Youths were urged to learn about data protection and effects of cyber bullying since they spend most of their time online. The government was asked to also focus on schools since some of the recruiters who are mostly advanced in age target students.

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Agency develops new strategy to fight violent extremism

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