Kenya kicks off youth dialogue series on prevention of violent extremism in Nairobi
The dialogue series also aligns with the second counter-terrorism strategy (2025-2030) whose implementation has kicked off.
The government has kicked off a nationwide youth dialogue on the prevention of violent extremism as part of efforts aimed at building resilience amongst the segment that forms the bulk of the country's population.
The dialogue is part of a policy discourse series supported by Sharp Development Solutions, Yaden East Africa and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Nairobi that is seeking to address challenges hindering meaningful youth participation in preventing and Countering Violent Extremism.
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This is in the realisation that extremist groups have adopted tactics that prey on the vulnerabilities of the country's youth amongst them; a feeling of exclusion from key decisions, and a high rate of unemployment that is fueling poverty- to expand their ideologies and activities.
The dialogues kicked off early Thursday in Nairobi with youth from the 47 counties in attendance, county commissioners and other state and non-state stakeholders under the leadership of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
In a speech read on his behalf by Col Emanuel Chirchir the Chief Liason Officer in charge of Counterterrorism at NCTC, the Centre's Director Kibyegon Kigen said the event marks an important step in aligning PCVE policies and programs with the realities faced by Kenyan youth.
"Let us remain committed to fostering a Kenya where young people are empowered as agents of change rather than exploited as instruments of destruction. Together we will create an environment where every young person has the opportunity to thrive while eliminating conditions that sow seeds of violent extremism," he said.
The dialogue series also aligns with the second counter-terrorism strategy (2025-2030) whose implementation has kicked off.
"The National Strategy to Preventing and. Countering Violent Extremism (NSCVE), which was launched in 2016 and updated in 2024, reflects our 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. Today's dialogue provides an opportunity to address these gaps and strengthen our collective response," he added.
Col Chirchir noted that while the threat of terrorism has been reduced by the use of hard approaches, an assessment showed that incorporating soft approaches to the fight and prevention of violent extremism remains key and thus part of the reason why the dialogue series is being prioritised.
The threat of violent extremism, he said, kicks off with one radicalised person in the community who starts spreading his ideologies to others.
That way, his victim(s) is first taken through the process of radicalisation before they are engaged in violent extremism or turned into terrorists.
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