Stakeholders push for counter terrorism policy reforms

By Ayub Mwangi

There is a need to continue pushing for reforms in the prevention and counter violent extremism related policies, so as to mainstream gender and ensure the full participation of communities at the grassroots level.

This is because women are central actors in Prevention of Counter Violent Extremism (PCVE), as they are connected to the cultural, social and political fabric of their communities, enabling them to identify early warning signs of radicalization.

This was revealed during a cross-country PCVE exchange forum on localising, preventing and countering violent extremism strategies in Kenya and Indonesia, that was attended by Kenyan and Indonesian counter terrorism officials, civil society organisations in peace and security and international funders, in Mombasa.

Kenya was represented by the National Counter Terrorism Centre Chief Liaison Officer Joseph Kanyiri, while Indonesia was represented by Andrika Chrisnayudhanto, the deputy for International Co-operation Indonesia Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT).

The meeting, which brought together 17 Civil Society Organizations in the area of peace, security and human rights underscored the need to redefine security to include social justice, and the protection of human rights, through localization initiatives that ensured unique social cultural and political dynamics of each area were addressed.

Rick Van Der Woud, the Chief Executive Officer Mensen met een Missie and JISRA consortium lead noted the extensive efforts made to counter violent extremism threats in both Kenya and Indonesia, though localised initiatives.

He observed the power of local initiatives in PCVE, which he said had the capacity to lay tangible local foundations in addressing violent extremism as locals understood how local criminal groups operate.

“The localization of National Action Plans to County Action Plans has played a key contribution in ensuring that women play their role in PCVE,” he noted, adding that there was a need for peer-to-peer learning that would enable develop and implement recommendations to advance PCVE work.

“Humiliation is a poison that creates division and can never be used as a tool of justice. Local religious leaders and government should work together to build action and resilient communities that would work against VE by pursuing aspects that promote human dignity,” he added.

Kanyiri on his part said that Kenya had been able to reduce the effects of terrorism through the implementation of the National Counter Terrorism Strategy, which had been cascaded to the 47 counties.

The National Counter Terrorism Strategy which has been in place for the last 8 years, is now under review for the period between 2024-2029.

The five-chapter document has gone through public participation to understand the lessons learnt, open more spaces, transform the pillars to working groups and give prominence to women youth and male mentors.

The government hopes that the document that underscores respect for constitutionalism, human rights and psychosocial support will be ready for implementation by January 2025.

The dialogue was hosted by the Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE), a Mombasa based peace and security non-governmental organisation.

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