Women and Peacebuilding in Kenya: A Case Study of Countering Violent Extremism in Kamukunji Constituency, Nairobi County

The study investigated women and peacebuilding in Kenya: a case study of countering violent extremism in Kamukunji Constituency, Nairobi County. Specifically, the study investigated the factors that predispose women to join violent extremist groups, how peacebuilding agencies involve women and the challenges that women peace builders in Kamukunji Constituency ace. The study area was Kamukunji Constituency, one of seventeen constituencies of Nairobi County, with an area of 12 km2. The study employed a qualitative case study approach. The sample size was 42 respondents. The findings indicated factors that face women to join extremist groups that include poverty, Lick of education, hopelessness, and lack of employment among the women that make them an easy prey for the recruiters of the extremist groups. The women have been given leadership roles and are involved in various activities in the area whose aim is to bring about peace. The study further established that there are challenges that woman face in peace building programmes designed to Counter Violent Extremism- The women fear being victimized if they open up on the recruitment of women in the community. The security forces are also con-apt. and this make it difficult for the peace building to be successful. The men also do not believe that women can lead them and therefore they face resistance from the male fraternity. The study recommends that through the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government there should be a policy guiding how the women can be included in peacebuilding in Kenya. This can be through creation of leadership positions meant for women in various peacebuilding bodies.