RELIGIOUS GROUPS ENGAGEMENT IN PREVENTION OF YOUTH RADICALIZATION IN MOMBASA COUNTY

Abstract

The world is increasingly faced with a threat of extreme violence which is preceded by radicalization processes. Violence perpetrated in the name of religion has become a recurring phenomenon in Kenya in the recent past.The government policy on prevention of radicalization has heavily relied on hard-power responses in an attempt to crush the Al-Shabaab insurgency. It is imperative that within the confines of soft-power the role of religious groups is considered in preventing radicalization, but the vice has remained unabated pointing to the fact that religious groups on their own are not able to influence the change in behavior of the youths.The study assessed the influence of religious groups’ engagement in the prevention of youth radicalization in Mombasa County. The objectives of the study were to examine the nature of religious groups’ engagement, evaluate the effectiveness of religious groups’ engagement and analyze the opportunities and challenges of religious groups’ engagement in preventing youth radicalization in Mombasa County. The study adopted a conceptual framework informed by Relative Deprivation and Functionalism theories. A descriptive research design entailing mixed methods focusing on qualitative and quantitative research approach was used. The study was carried out in 3 constituencies of Mombasa County namely; Likoni, Kisauni and Mvita. The study population comprised of radicalized, de-radicalized and non- radicalized youth, police, chiefs and County commissioner, media personalities, civil society organizations representatives, village elders and religious groups. The sample size was 228 respondents comprising 100 non-radicalized youth, 10 religious groups, 42 village elders, sampled using simple random method and 50 de- radicalized youth and 3 radicalized youth sampled using snowballing. Finally purposive sampling technique was used to get 6 chiefs, 3 parents of the radicalized youths,3 Anti terror police officers, 1 County commissioner, 5 media personalities and 5 Civil Society Organizations representatives. Data was collected by both structured and unstructured questionnaire, Key informant interviews and Focus group discussions.They were all piloted before administration. Quantitative and qualitative analysis methods were used to analyze data. Quantitative analysis was used for closed ended items in the questionnaire; using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 28.0.Qualitative data analysis included responses to open ended questions in the focus group discussions and interview schedules. Analysis was done using the content and interpretive analysis technique. The relevant data was organized according to themes of the study objectives. The presentation of data was done through tables, figures and verbatim quotations. The study established that the nature of religious groups’ engagement in prevention of youth radicalization in Mombasa County is multi-faceted. However, for it to be effective, it must recognize the public and community as stakeholders and partners in preventing youth radicalization. It also established that religious groups’ engagement in preventing youth radicalization in Mombasa County appears to be ineffective given that its operations are poorly coordinated. Finally, the results revealed that the challenges and opportunities for religious groups in their efforts to prevent youth radicalization are numerous and varied. Therefore, the key to preventing youth radicalization effectively lies on proactively addressing the challenges highlighted by exploiting the opportunities identified in the study. The findings of the study are significant in informing policy formulation and contribution to existing academic knowledge. The overall conclusion of the study is that inasmuch as there have been various interventions by religious groups and attention on religious groups addressing youth radicalization, the study proves that the interventions are ineffective and therefore the influence on the behavior of the youth is not able to attract many youths to desist from radicalization. The study recommended that religious groups should adopt a multi-stakeholder approach in developing strategies aimed at preventing youth radicalization.