Resilience and dialogue: preventing violent extremism in Nairobi, Wajir and Kwale Counties in Kenya

This report explores how some localities in Kenya have managed to push back against violent extremism.

Kenya continues to suffer multiple threats from violent extremism. While communities across Kenya are faced with challenges that can be considered risk factors for radicalisation and violent extremism, they also demonstrate strengths that can be developed into building resilience against such violent extremism. This study sought to understand how affected communities in Kenya demonstrate resilience to violent extremism, as well as what conditions encourage dialogue between various groups to address and resolve problems that might otherwise result in radicalisation and violent extremism.

About the authors

Romi Sigsworth is a research consultant with the Complex Threats in Africa programme at the ISS. Prior to this, she was the gender specialist at the ISS and a senior researcher at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. She has an MSt in Women’s Studies from the University of Oxford.

Dr Akinola Olojo is a senior researcher in the Complex Threats in Africa Programme at the ISS. Before this, he was a visiting scholar at the Institut d’Études Politiques (Sciences Po), France, and a visiting research fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT), The Hague.

Zaina Kombo is the head of HAKI Africa-Nairobi Office. She is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and has an LLM in Law, Governance and Democracy from the University of Nairobi.

Cover image: Amelia Broodryk/ISS