dc.description.abstract | This study was focused on the factors that motivate youth towards terrorism and involvement
in terrorist activities in Mombasa County - Kenya. Terrorism is a global crime, and social
problem world over. One of the most popular methods of solving these crime has always
been through the use of military intervention and waging war on dissidents, a method that has
failed to bear any fruits in the fight against terrorism. Most studies focusing on Terrorism
touch on the actual physical conflicts and the impacts of the violence on society. There is
very limited information regarding the reasons why people engage in terrorism, the
motivating factors and above all why mostly the youth are the ones we find more attracted to
radical terror activities in recent times. This study was an assessment of the factors that
promote youth involvement in terror activities in Mombasa County Kenya. The general
objective of this study was to analyse the impact of terrorism amongst youth in Kenya and
specifically Mombasa County. This research was grounded on the strain Theories and social
disorganization theories. Both primary and secondary data was used. Primary data was
obtained using questionnaires and key informant interviews. A total of 127 respondents were
interviewed. The findings were analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences, while
content analysis was done for the qualitative data. The study found that terrorism and youth is
so entrenched and this comes about because of various factors that range from religion,
radicalization, youth upbringing, government policies, education and religious teachings
especially with relation to Islam and the feeling of neglect and marginalization.
The study concludes that unemployment, poverty, religion, lack of skills, peer influence and
the family influence among the youth in Mombasa County contributed to their attitude
towards terrorism. For a change to be realised and sustained, deliberate efforts must be made
to help avert this impending social problem in Mombasa County and Kenya as a whole. This
will require concerted efforts from the family institution, learning Institutions, religious
organs, civil society and above all Government intervention to curb the terrorism vice. | en_US |