Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism: A Case Study of Faith-Based Organizations in Isiolo County, Kenya

Abstract

Generally conflict prone, Isiolo County currently grapples with radicalization and recruitment into violent extremism by violent extremist organizations such as Al Shabab and Al Qaida. As part of a wider response to violent extremism and terrorism in Kenya, civil society organizations in Isiolo implement preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE) programs with the aid of local and international donor funding. Motivated by a gap in literature on the involvement of FBOs in PCVE programs, this study involves an examination of the motivation, challenges as well as the nature and level of involvement of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in PCVE programs in Isiolo County. Six organizations were involved in the study and data collected through interviews, focus group discussion and archival research. Other than mapping the involvement of FBOs in PCVE programs in Isiolo County, the study also reveals the existence of a link between the age of a faith-based organization and the nature and level of its involvement in PCVE programs. With regards to the gap in literature on the involvement of FBOs in PCVE programs, the study shows that FBOs are mostly involved as partners or participants in PCVE programs implemented by secular organizations. Since existing literature mainly focuses on the activities of organizations directly involved in the implementation of these programs, the activities of FBOs have thus received little coverage. However, this study reveals that FBOs continuously undertake activities that may amount to yet not officially labelled as PCVE activities.