- The inter-religious council of Kenya organized a forum aimed at kick-starting the process of drafting a policy on prevention and countering violent extremism in the county.
- The forum looked into ways of funding as well as enhancing capacity and promoting knowledge to enable coordination and mainstreaming of prevention and countering violent extremism.
Marsabit county has stepped up efforts to counter radicalization and violent extremism with a focus on youths as agents of change.
The inter-religious council of Kenya organized a forum aimed at kick-starting the process of drafting a policy on prevention and countering violent extremism in the county.
The forum looked into ways of funding as well as enhancing capacity and promoting knowledge to enable coordination and mainstreaming of prevention and countering violent extremism.
The forum also discussed how to develop a measurable, prioritized and realistic CAP that responds to the threat and strengthens the bond between the people in order to make it more inhospitable to the drivers of the violent extremism.
Speaking to members of the press, Deputy county commissioner David Saruni pointed out organized crime, drug abuse and gender-based violence as major contributing factors to violent extremism, calling for a concerted effort to bring to an end the menace.
He said though the county recorded few cases of radicalization, civil society and religious leaders need to closely work with the government to address violent extremism.
He cited the government's initiative of nyumba kumi plan and youth fund as some of the ways the government is responding to violent extremism.
Saruni reiterated the government's commitment to working with civil society actors to explore a common solution in dealing with violent extremism.
The deputy county commissioner called for collective responsibility in sharing information to enhance the government's efforts in dealing with security challenges brought by violent extremism.
The CECM Administration, ICT and public participation Armara Galwab promised county government support in every effort geared towards the prevention of radicalization and violent extremism.
He said Governor Mohamud-led administration was committed to ensuring its citizens were not intoxicated with ideologies which bring about insecurity.
He asked residents to be each other's keepers, adding that the youth were soft targets for radicalization and manipulation into violent extremism.
Armara called on residents to promote patriotism, noting that nationalism played a great role in every evil attempt aimed at involving individuals in criminal activities.
He said technologies and social media platforms play a great role in the mobilization of violent extremism and radicalization, calling on parents to fully take charge of their families and monitor every activity and movement of their children.
Marsabit interfaith council sheikh Mohamednur Kuli said Marsabit county religious leaders have agreed to work together to counter extremism through the grassroots engagement of Muslim and Christian leaders under the interfaith council.
He urged the Muslim faithful to support the promotion of religious education as a way of inculcating religious tolerance among the youths, noting that religious intolerance, fundamentalism and extremism were products of a lack of good religious upbringing.
He condemned any form of fundamentalism in the practice of one's religion, saying no religion preaches terrorism and violence.
Kuli reaffirmed that violence and terrorism cannot be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group, saying violent extremism and terrorism in all its forms and manifestation are against the holy principles of Islam.
Unemployment, poverty and marginalization were established as contributing factors to the radicalization of youth.
Saku Accountability forum boss James Forole Jarso said the issues must be addressed through economic empowerment and inclusive policies.
He said they have petitioned the governor for the inclusion of draft documents into the county Integrated Development plan, a policy that will provide the pedestal upon which leaders should rally all actors in the county towards preventing violent extremism.
He said the sensitization workshop of the CVE engagement forum rekindle energies and reinvigorate local structures such as religious youth leaders and security agencies.
According to Marsabit interfaith youth network chairperson Abdiaziz Boru, the government has failed to address the root cause of the problem.
He explained that poor economic performance, lack of opportunity for the youth, education system and relevance negates the self-expression of young people, making youths unable to translate their aspirations into productive and fulfilling future.
He said government and stakeholders should focus on addressing poverty and youth unemployment by incorporating and empowering them with skills to provide concrete solutions to help young people.
Saku youth Mariam Abdi urged young people to distance themselves from drug abuse.