Initiatives and Perceptions to Counter Violent Extremism in the Coastal Region of Kenya

The Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) discourse in Kenya reflects the larger Global War on Terror (GWOT) policy framework. Donor-driven governmental approaches support the top-down efforts to counter violent extremism. CVE initiatives now emerging in response to the rise of homegrown violent extremism in Kenya, in contrast, seek to encourage more community participation in the campaign to limit the activities of Al-Shabaab. This article examines existing countering violent extremism (CVE) initiatives in order to elucidate the effectiveness and shortcomings of CVE interventions. The findings are based on an ethnographic study in the coastal region of Kenya comprising of 249 in-depth interviews with key informants, observations and eight focus group discussions. The article maps existing CVE projects across Kenya’s coast including the prevention framework of primary, secondary and tertiary interventions as modelled on preventative public health approaches. Assessment of existing CVE programs provides information elucidating what works and for whom from a community perspective. Feedback from the community is critical for, facilitating effective measures for mitigating the process of youth radicalization in the coast region. The findings reported here recommend periodic consultation with the intended beneficiaries and other CVE initiatives’ stakeholders to enhance the sustainability of the projects

Citizens’ Perception of Leadership during COVID-19 Times in Mombasa, Kenya

Photo : Gedion Otula. Fathima AZMIYA BADURDEEN, “Citizens’ Perception of Leadership during COVID-19 Times in Mombasa, Kenya.” Mambo! Vol. XVII (4), 2020. Abstract: Leadership requires conscientious flexibility, consistency, and commitment in grappling a pandemic such as the COVID-19 virus. In this context, decision-making should involve placing the wellbeing of the constituency and the voters before economic, social and political gains, while Kenya’s political history has often shown oth..

Women contesting in the 2017 General Elections in the Coast Region of Kenya: Success and Obstacles

Women’s participation in Kenyan politics has increased in the last two general elections. For example, in the 2013 elections, a record number of 81 women were elected and nominated to the eleventh parliament. In the 2017 general elections, 21 women were elected to Member of Parliament positions, up from 16 women in 2013. However, this increase in the number of women in parliament is not evidence of democratization, and, in most cases, is a deliberate strategy by political parties to both adhere to the legal provisions of the constitution and attract a larger voter base in order to consolidate their power. Against this backdrop, this chapter investigates the factors influencing women’s participation in the 2017 general elections in the coastal region of Kenya. The factors that determine women’s political participation in this region go some way towards explaining the limited number of women involved in politics in Kenya broadly. As such, this chapter seeks to answer the following two questions: 1) What are the ‘glass ceilings’ faced by women in their political careers? 2) How successful were women politicians when campaigning in their constituencies? Based on qualitative interviews with relevant stakeholders, field observations and relevant secondary information, the article highlights the successes and obstacles faced by women candidates from the Coast in their journey towards the 2017 elections

Women contesting in the 2017 General Elections in the Coast Region of Kenya: Success and Obstacles

Women’s participation in Kenyan politics has increased in the last two general elections. For example, in the 2013 elections, a record number of 81 women were elected and nominated to the eleventh parliament. In the 2017 general elections, 21 women were elected to Member of Parliament positions, up from 16 women in 2013. However, this increase in the number of women in parliament is not evidence of democratization, and, in most cases, is a deliberate strategy by political parties to both adhere to the legal provisions of the constitution and attract a larger voter base in order to consolidate their power. Against this backdrop, this chapter investigates the factors influencing women’s participation in the 2017 general elections in the coastal region of Kenya. The factors that determine women’s political participation in this region go some way towards explaining the limited number of women involved in politics in Kenya broadly. As such, this chapter seeks to answer the following two questions: 1) What are the ‘glass ceilings’ faced by women in their political careers? 2) How successful were women politicians when campaigning in their constituencies? Based on qualitative interviews with relevant stakeholders, field observations and relevant secondary information, the article highlights the successes and obstacles faced by women candidates from the Coast in their journey towards the 2017 elections

Situating Trust, Values, and Ethics in the Politics of Knowledge Production:An Epistemic Shift in the Co-Production of Studying Violent Extremism

This article aligns with voices arguing for the need for trust-building in the co-production of knowledge on violent extremism. Trying to internalize the concept of violent extremism in local communities comes with its own political nuances in the knowledge-making process. A focus on trust-building approaches is relevant not only to those scholars who work on violent extremism research but also to the broad academic study of conflicts, postconflict, and terrorism. By drawing examples from a workshop conducted on trust-building in violent extremism research, the article presents some of the complexities in violent extremism research fieldwork and how researchers have been building trust with their research participants by navigating complex situations. This entails how different values contradict or merge in co-producing knowledge and the need for ethics to go beyond the institutional research ethical guidelines in understanding “universal values” for building trust in fieldwork

Finding Our Values in Peacebuilding

Over the years and through varied experiences as peace researchers and practitioners, we have developed an interest in understanding what values (as well as ethics and morals) motivate us in our work and how these values can lead to or sabotage trust

Where Women Are

While the drama of the complicated 2017 General election in Kenya unfolded and the clash between the patriarchs dominated the headlines, women were once again relegated to a secondary position in the public conversation. ‘Flower girls’. ‘Someone’s Wife’. These are some of the terms used to describe Kenyan women in politics - as simply accompanying and supporting men rather than having complex identities and public lives of their own. Yet Kenyan women were present and active, pushing against layers of structural and physical gendered violence to claim space in the political arena. This collection captures some of the stories and experiences of women participating in the heated 2017 general election in Kenya in order to shed light on the nuances and complexities facing women who choose to enter electoral politics. From stories of rural women using traditional social networks to access political power, to young urban women defying expectations and confronting an electorate that was conditioned to ignore them, these stories not only highlight the problems that women face but also the ingenious ways they navigate the spaces that do exist. Kenyan women are present and active in politics and this book works to see and understand where they are