Community Based Civic Programmes and Prevention of Violent Extremism in Mombasa County

Summary

Violent extremism is a major security issue in many countries across the globe. Its motivators have evolved from nationalistic narratives to religious ideologies. Many countries in the world have become theatres of the wave of violent extremism, which is seen through the numerous terrorist attacks experienced in recent years in various parts of the world. Security measures alone cannot eradicate this problem, but cross-sectional efforts are needed to confront the radicalization and recruitment of people in the communities. This study therefore explored the community-based initiatives applied to prevent and counter violent extremism in Mombasa. The specific areas of this study were: Assessing the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) initiatives in preventing and countering violent extremism in Mombasa; examining the effectiveness of community-based programmes in preventing and countering violent extremism in Mombasa; evaluating the challenges facing effective implementation of community-based programmes in preventing and countering violent extremism in Mombasa. The study was guided by the social capital theory which explains that social ties are effective in maintenance of social control. Descriptive research design was employed in this study and both secondary and primary data were utilized. The study used questionnaire to collect primary data from police officers in Mombasa, KDF personnel in Mombasa, Chiefs, religious leaders, and NCTC personnel. The study established that diverge community-based efforts have been introduced by NCTC to fight against violent extremism in the region. These included community policing, rehabilitation programmes, education training and mentorship programs for the youth. It was confirmed that the residents of this region are receptive to these efforts. Community policing and rehabilitation programmes however were found to be facing challenges that are hindering their effectiveness. There is a lack of transparency and trust between the community and law enforcement personnel. Several other challenges were identified including lack of sufficient funding, and the economic grievances, especially unemployment, have not been adequately addressed. The stigma faced by the radicalized persons seeking to transform also prevents them from seeking help from the rehabilitation centres. The study concluded that youths are the most vulnerable as perpetrators of extremism in Mombasa, majorly because of unemployment. The effectiveness of community policing in Mombasa County needs to be enhanced as one of critical methods of preventing violent extremism. It was also established that cooperation among the agencies involved should be encouraged and there is need for increased awareness on the importance of rehabilitating returnees.

Keywords

community-based programmes, civic engagement, PVE, Mombasa, Kenya