Contributions Of Community Based Approaches To Countering Youth Radicalization In Kenya’s Mombasa And Nairobi Counties.

This research investigated the community-based approaches and interventions that have been adopted by communities in Nairobi and Mombasa Counties of Kenya in counterradicalization work. Community-based approaches focusing on building the resilience of communities to react and respond to challenges posed by youth radicalization including their involvement in violent extremism are now considered to be a key plank of any counterterrorism work globally. The underlying perspective for this shift is that the communities are better placed to respond to terrorists given that individuals are recruited from communities and which not only threatens community safety but also endangers their children, family and neighbours.

By focusing on resilience in the Kenyan context, this research responds to a changing discourse in terrorism studies. Going beyond these earlier narratives is the focus of this dissertation. The study investigated the multiple risk factors at play and how communitybased approaches work in countering violent extremism in the Kenyan context. It finds both potentials and challenges in using community-based approaches in counter-radicalization work.

The study adopted a qualitative research design. It relied on both primary and secondary sources of data. In terms of primary data, the study relied on oral interviews that adopted both structured and semi-structured interview formats. Additionally, Focus Group

Discussions (FGDS) were held with communities in the two field locations (Nairobi and Mombasa) and included youth, grassroots community workers, civil society actors, and faithbased organizations leaders. Key informants working within government policy and law enforcement agencies were also interviewed. Data was analysed through interpretivism and qualitative content analysis.