NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya is combining military force with soft-power tactics to counter the growing threat of terrorism, as the government deepens its efforts to dismantle extremist networks and prevent radicalisation, particularly among the youth.
According to Kibiego Kigen, Director of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the country’s strategy now includes not only military operations—such as targeted strikes and neutralising terrorist leaders—but also non-coercive approaches focused on disengagement, deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration (DDRR) of violent extremists.
Speaking during the Global Counter Terrorism Forum’s East Africa Working Group on Motivational Engagement in Nairobi, Kigen said these “softer” methods are increasingly crucial in the fight against terrorism.
“There is a need to complement robust military measures with preventive and proactive approaches,” Kigen said.
He noted that extremist groups are exploiting the socio-economic vulnerabilities of young people—such as poverty, marginalisation and lack of educational opportunities—to recruit and radicalise them.
To counter this, the government is employing religious leaders to promote counter-narratives, supporting community-based initiatives, and implementing policies aimed at youth empowerment and resilience.
The motivational engagement training is part of a broader 2024–2026 work plan to build the capacity of security officers in the reception, screening and assessment of individuals disengaging from extremist groups.
Officers were also trained on the Kenyan model of motivational disengagement, which includes self-awareness, appreciative communication, and behaviour change tools.
“This knowledge will go a long way in our global fight against the scourge of terrorism,” said Kigen, urging participants to tailor the lessons to suit the needs of their respective countries.
The training drew participation from regional and international security officers, including Minister Plenipotentiary Mohammed Al Roumi, Kuwait’s Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for Development and International Cooperation.
Al Roumi said such programmes are essential for multilateral cooperation and for empowering countries to better respond to both local and global terrorism threats.
“In our interconnected world, East Africa’s security challenges are reflected across the Middle East and vice versa,” Al Roumi said. “We must provide tools not just for identifying risks, but also for building lasting solutions through collaboration.”
Kuwait, which co-hosted the forum, has supported the repatriation of over 1,200 individuals—including foreign terrorist fighters and their families—from former conflict zones since 2018.
Al Roumi called for more countries to take responsibility for their citizens involved in extremism abroad, stressing the need to rehabilitate and reintegrate them to prevent future radicalisation.
At the national level, Kenya’s efforts to counter extremism have also included legislative reforms.
The Ministry of Interior recently introduced the Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE) Model Bill, which aims to embed counter-extremism initiatives into county governance structures.
The law seeks to enhance coordination between national and county governments and ensure sustainable funding for grassroots prevention efforts.
NCTC also reviewed and rebranded its National Strategy to Counter Violent Extremism (NSCVE), now renamed the National Strategy for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (NSPCVE).
The new strategy emphasizes youth engagement and community resilience as key pillars of a sustainable counter-extremism framework.
“The youth should be empowered as agents of change rather than exploited as instruments of destruction,” said Kigen.
