Strengthening Locally Led Resilience to Violent Extremism in Mombasa

Summary

This research report examines the effectiveness of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) programmes in Mombasa County, Kenya, with a focus on locally driven resilience against Al-Shabaab recruitment. Violent extremism remains an existential threat, with 72 attacks and 178 deaths in 2023, mainly in coastal regions. The research, conducted under the USAID Sauti Yako, Amani Yako programme, is set against Kenya's 2016 National Strategy to Counter Violent Extremism, which shifted from security-focused to whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches through County Action Plans. Key findings reveal youth vulnerability driven by unemployment and socio-economic marginalisation, alongside challenges including trust deficits between communities and law enforcement, insufficient funding, and stigma faced by returnees. Chiefs emerge as trusted intermediaries critical to coordinating community security and linking youth to economic opportunities. The report recommends deepening community engagement, addressing socio-economic grievances, and ensuring adaptable PCVE interventions for evolving threats in Mombasa County.

Keywords

locally-ed resilience, violent extremism, Mombasa, Kenya

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