NAIROBI, Kenya — The Government has launched a skills development and livelihood support initiative targeting 450 vulnerable youth and women in Nairobi, Kilifi, Kisumu, Isiolo and Samburu counties as part of efforts to strengthen community resilience and prevent violent extremism.
The initiative was unveiled during the Fifth Programme Steering Committee meeting of the Peacebuilding and Preventing Violent Extremism in East Africa Programme, where the Government and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to community-led peacebuilding, social cohesion and economic empowerment.
Implemented under the Building Resilience and Community Empowerment for Peace (BRACE4PEACE) Programme, the initiative brings together the Government of Kenya, the Government of South Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), technical and vocational education and training institutions, and peacebuilding partners.
In Kenya, the programme is led by the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, in collaboration with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), the National Steering Committee on Peacebuilding and Conflict Management, the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya and other national and community institutions.
The Resilient Livelihoods and Vulnerable Youth and Communities Empowerment Initiative will provide vulnerable young people, families and communities with practical skills and support to establish sustainable sources of income.
Speaking during the meeting, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration PS Raymond Omollo said sustainable peace could not be achieved through security interventions alone without addressing the social and economic vulnerabilities that expose communities to crime and violent extremism.
“The focus is on strengthening community resilience, promoting social cohesion and expanding economic opportunities. These pillars must move together if we are to reduce the risks facing vulnerable communities,” Omollo said.
Skills training tailored to local economies
The initial cohort comprises 90 participants from each of the five counties. Working with technical and vocational institutions, participants will receive market-oriented training aimed at improving employability, entrepreneurship and household incomes.
Training will reflect the economic opportunities available in each area. Participants in Nairobi will receive training in digital solutions and ICT, while those in Kilifi will focus on coastal tourism.
In Kisumu, training will include cage aquaculture, while beneficiaries in Isiolo and Samburu will be trained in beekeeping, beadwork and handicrafts.
Omollo said training must be accompanied by practical support to ensure beneficiaries can turn newly acquired skills into viable businesses.
National and county governments will therefore work together to identify beneficiaries already enrolled in public programmes and connect them with complementary services where necessary.
Young entrepreneurs will also be linked to business licensing, financing, mentorship, enterprise development, markets, digital platforms and relevant government programmes.
The initiative complements broader youth empowerment interventions, including programmes aimed at helping young people acquire skills, pursue entrepreneurship and participate more fully in the economy.
Tackling grievances behind extremism
Omollo said economic empowerment was also an important component of Kenya’s broader strategy to prevent recruitment into criminal and extremist networks.
He noted that communities continue to face challenges linked to environmental pressures, competition over scarce resources, socioeconomic marginalisation, terrorism and the misuse of digital platforms.
“The reality is that those recruited into criminal and extremist networks are our people. In many cases, they are driven by a feeling of neglect, marginalisation or unresolved grievances. That is why community-based programmes are so important,” he said.
The PS said lessons from regional initiatives, including community engagement in Somaliland, had demonstrated the importance of understanding the grievances and vulnerabilities exploited by criminal and extremist groups.
He also called for stronger cooperation with the NCIC and other institutions involved in conflict prevention, particularly in areas where competition over natural resources and climate pressures could trigger tensions.
Omollo urged authorities to prepare communities for possible emergencies during the October-to-December rainfall season, saying the National Disaster Operations Centre, county governments and communities should coordinate preparedness measures to protect vulnerable livelihoods.
Digital platforms and electoral security
The PS also highlighted the growing influence of the digital environment, noting that technology has expanded opportunities for learning, communication and economic participation while simultaneously creating avenues for misinformation and extremist propaganda.
He called for greater investment in digital literacy and responsible technology use among young people and community institutions.
Omollo said the Government would adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving national and county governments, religious and community leaders, civil society, development partners, the private sector and young people.
The approach will also complement security preparations ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Omollo said the Government had developed a comprehensive strategic plan to guide security deployment before, during and after the elections, drawing on lessons from previous electoral cycles, including the 2022 polls.
“We have an elaborate strategic plan that will guide our security deployment before, during and after the elections. Our objective is to ensure that Kenyans can participate in the electoral process peacefully and that every political contestant can present their ideas without intimidation or violence,” he said.
The Government and its partners are also revitalising the Uwiano Platform for Peace, which has previously supported conflict prevention, early warning, public engagement and peaceful participation during elections.
Warning against political exploitation of youth
Omollo warned political leaders against recruiting young people into violence or using criminal groups to intimidate opponents during the electoral period.
He said security agencies were undertaking intelligence-led profiling of individuals and groups suspected of involvement in organised political violence and were addressing criminal networks.
“Any criminal act related to politics or political contestation will not be tolerated. Political leaders must not take advantage of the vulnerability of young people, and our youth should not allow themselves to be misused for selfish political interests,” he said.
He stressed that enforcement must be accompanied by preventive measures that address unemployment, poverty, marginalisation and other vulnerabilities that criminal and political networks can exploit.
Omollo also urged Kenyans to embrace political tolerance and allow competing views to be expressed without intimidation or violence.
“We must develop a culture of tolerance. People will have different opinions because that is what democracy allows. Everyone should be free to canvass their ideas without intimidation and without resorting to violence,” he said.
The meeting was attended by NCIC Chairperson Bishop Dr Kepha Nyamweya Omae, NCIC Vice Chairperson Irene Tulel, UNDP Kenya Deputy Resident Representative for Programmes Madelena Monoja, KOICA Deputy Country Director Jooyoung Baek and KOICA Programme Officer Ann Ndingo.
The Government said the combination of economic empowerment, community participation, peacebuilding and effective security measures would be critical to building resilient communities and reducing the vulnerability of young people to criminal and extremist recruitment.
