| dc.description.abstract | Although the concept of returning terrorist fighters is not new in Kenya, the most efficient
strategy to reduce their threat to national security and community peace-making is through
non-custodial reintegration. In Kenya, this intervention is targeted to resolve problems
that obstruct effective recovery and ultimate reintegration of the returnees into the
community. Little research has examined the welfare of returned terrorist fighters in
Kenya and the reintegration initiatives that meet their psycho-social and economic
needs. This thesis contributes to the debate on the desirable non-custodial reintegration
initiative and its efficacy on the welfare of returnee terrorist fighters in Mombasa,
Kenya. The specific objectives of the study aimed to: Explore the nature of noncustodial
reintegration programmes on returnee terrorist fighters in Mombasa,
evaluate the efficacy of the non-custodial reintegration programmes on the welfare
of returnee terrorist fighters, and finally assess the challenges to the non-custodial
reintegration programmes on the welfare of returnee terrorist fighters in Mombasa.
The study was founded on three theories: Programme Theory, Relative Deprivation
Theory and Desistance Theory. A sample size of 400 respondents was needed for
the concentrated investigation. The study data relied on questionnaire and
interviews with residents of the community, government representatives, returnees,
academic experts, and civil society players. Data was collected using a mixed
concurrent triangulation approach and a cross-sectional descriptive and evaluation
research design. The study's target group was taken from Mombasa County, which
was shown to have the highest rates of violent extremism and recidivism in Kenya.
Pilot testing of the instruments contributed to the study's findings being more valid
and reliable. Study participants were chosen by simple random selection, snow
balling and purposive sampling. Quantitative data was gathered via questionnaires.
Textual thematic analysis was used to collect qualitative data from focus group
discussions and key informant interviews. The findings of the study are
summarized, analyzed, and presented using descriptive statistics of frequencies,
means, and standard deviations, as well as narrative form. From the findings, the
study aims to add new knowledge to the existing body of research and academia,
help review current policies to help develop new approaches and guidelines
regarding the non-custodial reintegration of returnee terrorist fighters. In
conclusion, the study found that non-custodial reintegration programmes of
returnee terrorist fighters provide a perfect opportunity for enhancing community
resilience in fighting radicalization leading to terrorism. The study noted
challenges facing non-custodial reintegration programmes in addressing the
welfare of the returnees, thereby limiting the programmes' ability and capacity to
improve the returnees’ welfare objectively and accurately. The study's overall
conclusion is that the employment of a multisectoral and multi-agency approach
together with participation and inclusion of community members in the noncustodial
reintegration process is a key factor in ensuring sustainable and effective
programmes that are impactful on the welfare of the returnee terrorist fighters. The
study recommends the nesting of non-custodial reintegration programmes into
large economic and social stability efforts at county governments to enhance
structural plans in development, implementation, and evaluation. | en_US |
