LAMU, Kenya — Lamu County has taken a major step in preventing violent extremism, unveiling a draft five-year County Action Plan (CAP) and restructuring the County Engagement Forum (CEF) to strengthen community resilience.
The outcomes achieved during a three-day workshop included aligning Lamu’s strategy with the National PCVE Strategy 2025–2030, creating 12 working groups across five priority areas, and electing new leadership for each group.
Participants also enhanced their capacity to use key tools, such as the Fusion Platform and the Jasiri Observatory, to monitor and respond to emerging threats.
The workshop, led by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in partnership with the European Union in Kenya and the Lamu County Government, brought together 43 stakeholders from government, civil society, religious organisations, youth groups, women’s organisations, persons with disabilities, and academic institutions.
Officials described the event as a “critical milestone in localising national prevention strategies” and emphasised that the restructured CEF will improve coordination among community leaders, law enforcement, and local stakeholders in tackling extremism at the grassroots level.
“This is a major step in localizing our national prevention efforts and building a safer, more cohesive Lamu,” NCTC said.
Lamu County, 3 – 5 February 2026@NCTC_Kenya, with @EUinKenya support & @LamuCountyKe leadership concluded a pivotal 3-day workshop to review the County Action Plan (CAP) and restructure the County Engagement Forum (CEF).43 participants from gov’t, religious groups, youth,
A Lamu County official told Y News that, “by combining national strategy with local leadership and community engagement, Lamu is setting a model for other counties in the fight against violent extremism.”
The County Action Plan and newly structured forum are expected to guide Lamu’s efforts over the next five years, focusing on prevention, community engagement, and rapid response to radicalisation threats.
Lamu has long been a hotspot for violent extremism, largely linked to the Al‑Shabaab militant group from Somalia.
Its dense Boni Forest and porous border make the region a strategic hideout for militants.
The county has experienced deadly attacks in villages such as Mpeketoni and Hindi, disrupting communities and tourism.
Security forces, including the Kenya Defence Forces and National Counter Terrorism Centre, have launched operations and community programmes to curb extremist activity.
Despite these efforts, sporadic attacks continue to challenge development and public safety in the region.
