Kasimwa,Faith Analo2024-09-092024-09-092024-05https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/28733Research Project Submitted to the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy of Kenyatta University May 2024 Supervisor. Xavier Francis IchaniThis study sought to investigate the link between internal dissidence and the increased violent extremism in Kwale County, Kenya, by first, exploring the factors driving internal dissent in Kwale County, Kenya. Secondly, analyze radicalization strategies used by violent extremists to establish ties with internal dissidents in Kwale County and thirdly, evaluating the efficiency of approaches of dealing with internal dissent and violet extremism in Kwale County, Kenya. Related literature in internal dissidents, violent extremism, radicalization and counter-violent extremism was reviewed to shed light on this study. The drive theory and social movement theory was used to ground the various elements in this study. This study used a factor analysis design which combines aspects of exploratory and descriptive analysis in exploring the causal factors of internal dissent and its relationship with violent extremism. Kwale County was used as the study area due to its history of violent extremism. This study targeted residents of Kwale County as well as Non-Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations, Government Security Organs and Agencies and County Government Officials. The study used a total of 117 respondents as a sample. The data was collected using structured questionnaires and interviews and analyzed using factor analysis. This was followed by presentation of findings in tables, frequencies, percentages, pie charts and graphs. Qualitative data was analyzed through thematic analysis, content analysis and through theoretical reflections. This study found that a number of factors lead to internal dissidence with lack of public participation having the highest correlation to internal dissent and that propaganda and misguided religious teachings were the ways most commonly used by established radical groups to ink with internal dissents. Further, the study found that the most utilized strategy to address violent extremism in Kwale County is improved access to education rather than addressing lack of public participation in governance and development as well as monitoring the use of propaganda and extremist religious teachings. This has made counter violent extremist strategies ineffective. The study therefore recommends the shift of strategy of dealing with violent extremism to improved public involvement and countering the spread of propaganda and misguided religious teachings.enThesis