A roundtable on Preventing Violent Extremism and Terrorism was held in Nairobi on June 25, as a side event of the Global Peace Leadership Conference (GPLC) Africa 2024. The roundtable brought together more than 50 representatives from the public and private sectors, religious leaders, community leaders, civil society leaders, and youth leaders to deliberate on the local and regional context of preventing violent extremism and terrorism in Kenya and the region.

Alan Inman, GPF senior advisor, welcomes delegates at the Preventing Violent Extremism roundtable.

Audience at the Global Peace Leadership Conference in Niarobi.

As threats of violent extremism and terrorism continue to remain a challenge in Kenya and the region, improving communication and collaboration among community members, security actors and policy makers is critical to embrace a preventive approach. The session provided an invaluable opportunity for the stakeholders present to learn from each other, enhance collaboration among key stakeholders, and foster a community-engaged approach to preventing violent extremism in Kenya and the region.

The session began with key briefings on their current efforts at preventing violent extremism by the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) Kenya, and Global Peace Foundation. Dr. Charles Opiyo of NCTC, alluding to the changing dynamics of terror activities in Kenya, highlighted the importance of adopting a community approach in deterring violent extremism and radicalization. He noted that NCTC has shifted from a pillar-oriented approach to a community approach utilizing working groups in the County Engagement Forums to counter violent extremism and radicalization in the country.

Tahir Sakhi, Program Manager of Global Peace Foundation provided an overview of GPF’s efforts to prevent violent extremism globally. Under its Violence Prevention portfolio, GPF has implemented institutionally-funded projects designed to prevent violent extremism, prevent targeted violence and terrorism, counter financing of terrorism, raise societal awareness against radicalization to violence, and build youth and community resiliency to threats of violent extremism in the United States, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Tahir emphasized the importance of collaboration and connections-strengthening amongst stakeholders present at the roundtable to foster a community-engaged approach to prevent violent extremism in Kenya and the region.

Tahir Sakhi gives a presentation at the Preventing Violent Extremism roundtable.

The briefing session was followed by a facilitated dialogue among stakeholders to discuss challenges, lessons learned, and best practices, and to identify opportunities to enhance collaboration in preventing violent extremism and terrorism.

Audience member asks a question to the Preventing Violent Extremism roundtable panel.

Dr. Acha Debela, Professor, North Carolina Central University, shared his insights on the violent extremism scenario in Ethiopia, and stressed the importance of undermining the core drivers and motivations behind violent extremism by promoting unity, progress, and inclusive governance through dialogue, reconciliation, and mutual understanding.

Several community and faith leaders present at the roundtable shared their perspectives and contributed their insights on a variety of issues related to preventing violent extremism including the importance of respecting the civil rights and liberties of national agencies engaged in counterterrorism activities, relationship building and collaboration among stakeholders, training for at-risk youth, safer digital communities and spaces, and job creation for youth to prevent them from joining terrorist groups. Others underscored the gaps in risk assessment and inadequate support for vulnerable youth and called on the national agencies to provide institutional funding for local community training to identify and assess at-risk individuals and to provide psycho-social support for people who are vulnerable to terrorist recruitment.

The roundtable offered stakeholders from diverse sectors an important opportunity to exchange perspectives on the challenges of violent extremism and terrorism, share experiences and expertise, and explore and enhance opportunities for collaboration to prevent violent extremism in their local context.