Reasons why the amnesty for 'reformed' alshabaab returnees is failing security in Kwale

The recent  killings of Nyumba Kumi elders as well as “reformed” Al Shabaab returnees in Kwale County has served to demonstrate how entrenched the problem of terrorism and violent extremism is in Kenya, particularly the coastal region. These targeted killings will cumulatively sabotage countering violent extremism (CVE) efforts being expended by government, civil society and communities in Kenya as a whole.

The killings of peace elders, reformed and de-radicalized youths (popularly referred to as returnees) has also indicted the government amnesty that was issued in 2015 for youths who had denounced extremism to benefit from a government sponsored disengagement, demobilization and reintegration program. From the very beginning, this amnesty was set to fail because of a number of inadequacies in its design.