New strategy targets youth in fight against violent extremism

Participants during a high-level policy dialogue seminar in Nairobi aimed at fighting violent extremism. [James Wanzala, Standard] A new strategy to counter violent extremism will now incorporate youth engagement to fighting the vice. This was revealed on Thursday during a high-level policy dialogue seminar in Nairobi. The strategy will be implemented across the 47 counties. "Kenya, like many nations globally, continues to grapple with evolving and persistent threat of violent extremism. Over the years, extremist groups have adapted tactics preying on the vulnerabilities of our youth," said Kibiego Kigen, director of National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC). "This reality underscores the urgency for more coordinated and inclusive approaches in the PCVE sector to countering these threats," Kigen said this in a speech read on his behalf by Col. Emmanuel Chirchir. He said the strategy reflects the government's commitment to comprehensively address violent extremism. "By prioritising youth engagement and empowerment, the strategy acknowledges the unique position young people occupy in Kenya's social and economic fabric," he added. The dialogue is part of the National Integrated PCVE Initiative (NiPi) Policy Discourse Series, that seeks to address the pressing challenges hindering meaningful youth participation in preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE). It was organised by NiPi and comprised of Sharp Development Solutions (SDS) Consulting , Yaden East Africa, Champions of Peace- Kenya and Grassroots Impact Advisors, in partnership with the NCTC and with support of the Embassy of the Netherlands. The dialogue sought to reflect on the NSPCVE 2025-2030 and its impact on youth engagement, identify policy and structural barriers preventing meaningful youth participation and explore strategies for fostering inclusive and sustainable PCVE efforts. Speaking at the event, Rehab Wangare from SDS Consulting said one of the strategies will be integration and coherence of government programmes offered by the various ministries so that all opportunities from them are given to the youth. "We will seek to reach all youth both in and out of school with income-generating activities and by being economically empowered, we will be able to build their resilience," she said. Wangare said there are many opportunities for non-profit organisations, who are working within County Engagement Forums and the implementation of the strategy has been devolved at the county level through County Action Plans. Col. Chirchir said one of the lessons learnt in the previous strategy was inclusion especially of the youth, a softer approach that they will have to do it this time. "We realised that in the fight against terrorism, the driver of it starts with the process of radicalisation before one is recruited as a terrorist. I believe if we do that with this new strategy, we are going to see reduction of terrorism in the country," he said, adding that terrorist threats have reduced. He said the strategy will include coming up with dialogues and income-generating activities, which will tackle challenges that many youths are facing and include unemployment and poverty, which recruiters use to exploit them. Kevin Osido, executive director of County Governance Watch said the dialogue will seek to identify barriers to youth accessing government affirmative action funds due to requirements including the need for identification cards, which disfranchise marginalised ones.

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