Understanding the Role of Community-Based Organisations in Radicalisation and Terror-Related Activities in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

The militaristic approach otherwise known as the hard strategy involves the employment of a hard approach to countering violent extremism, which is headed by the security agencies coordinated by the Kenya National government. This hard measure ought to be supplemented by the soft strategy, which involves the main key partners at the community level who are the youth, women, and community leaders. These groups have extensive knowledge of the local dynamics, are positioned well to navigate the local terrains in getting to know the trends and drivers of violent extremism and work with marginalised groups to address their demands and grievances in order to build lasting trust between the government authorities and the communities. There is a significant increase in terror cells that target the youth both male and female operating within Nairobi and specifically in the suburbs of Mukuru, Eastleigh, California, Mathare, and Kibera. Through the community-based organisations in the country, the key stakeholders have provided impactful and lasting contributions to preventing and countering violent extremism. Young people are the main target of recruitment and mobilisation by violent groups and by implication, they are one of the most strategic sources of resilience against terrorism