Kenya

Where We Work

Kenya

Context

Kenya is currently ranked 18 on the Global Terrorism Index of 2024. After a relatively calm period in the initial months of the year, violent extremist incidents intensified in Kenya during the second half of 2021. Most incidents were perpetrated by Al Shabab in the northeast, particularly in Garissa, Wajir and at the Coast, in Lamu.

The Government of Kenya and civil society actors worked collaboratively to respond to risks of violent extremism and as a result, 300 Kenyans left Al-Shabaab and surrendered to the Kenyan authorities in June 2021.

Investment Focus

GCERF supports activities to build social cohesion and community agency. It also funds programmes designed to create equal access to opportunities and a sense of purpose. These include initiatives to:

Promote interfaith dialogue among religious leaders on the Kenyan coast.
Train women and out-of-school youth in entrepreneurial skills.
Create safe spaces and symposia for women to discuss the prevention of violent extremism in their communities.
Establish community peace watch groups in Wajir, Garissa, and on the Kenyan coast to alert on early signs of radicalisation.
Mentor peace ambassadors and youth.

As Muslims, we are allowed to reject violence and pursue peaceful mediation as the first solution in coexisting with non-Muslims. Knowledge is the key, particularly the youth require proper knowledge in Islam. The best way is to educate people is just like we are doing in this group discussion – sharing the proper knowledge and information about Islam. Once a person understands his/her religion and the evilness of violence, even if he is oppressed and marginalised, he cannot kill people because he knows there are better ways to solve issues.