Drivers of Youth Radicalization into Violent Extremist Organisations in Isiolo County, Kenya
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies (JAIS)
Abstract
Isiolo County is a key economic node in the region, located as it does on the Lapsset corridor,
which in turn links several road systems and promotes growth throughout the region. Cattle
rustling, illicit guns, extremism, human and drug trafficking are all issues that threaten the safety
of Isiolo because of its location. While there has been no major terror attack on Isiolo County
soil, there has been an increase in terror-related activities as a result of some local youth
becoming radicalized and joining violent extremist groups, threatening the safety of both Isiolo
County and its neighbors. Youth radicalization is a major danger to the economic and social
fabric of Isiolo County. It was speculated that the main causes of radicalization among teenagers
in Isiolo County were neglectful/permissive parenting, drug and substance misuse, peer pressure,
unemployment, marginalization, and poverty. Community policing strategies initiatives,
fostering creation of jobs and entrepreneurship, developing an extensive rehabilitation and
reintegration program for individuals who have been radicalized, empowering communities
through education, building strong partnerships between communities and security agencies, and
between parents and their children were among the interventions proposed with the goal of
reducing radicalization. The study identified the drivers of youth radicalization in Isiolo County
and strategies to prevent and counter youth radicalization in Isiolo County were proposed. The
objective of this study was to examine the drivers of youth radicalization into Violent Extremist
Organizations in Isiolo County, Kenya. Literature review included conducting an extensive
review on the existing literature, reports, legal frameworks and previous research papers in line
with the project title was done in line with the objective. The study adopted a mixed method
research approach in collecting data. From the study various drivers of radicalization in Isiolo
County were outlined. The study recommended youth empowerment, development of a
comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration programs for radicalised individuals, inter communal dialogue and promotion of cultural integration, encouraging civil responsibilities and
reintroduction of mandatory community service training to help in combating youth
radicalization in Isiolo County eventually streamlining the community security.
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Journal Article
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Citation
Masaga, G. N & Handa, S. O. (2023). Drivers of Youth Radicalization into Violent Extremist Organisations in Isiolo County, Kenya. Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies, 7(11), 241 - 253.