Women and Deradicalization Efforts in Kenya: the Case of Isiolo County, 2011-2018

Abstract

This study investigated both the radicalisation of the youth as well as the role of women in deradicalization in Isiolo county, located in Kenya, covering the period between 2011 and 2018. On the one hand, radicalization refers to the behaviours and activities that the youth of Isiolo county engaged in and which led to terrorism in the county, nation, region, and the world. On the other hand, deradicalization defines the methods and techniques employed, particularly by women in Isiolo county, to repair the harm caused by radicalization. While the national government, local security agencies and the international community, have implemented formal measures to stem radicalization, most of their strategies are silent on the role of women in deradicalization. This study focused on the interventions made by women in deradicalization using Isiolo county as the case study. The research sought to achieve three main objectives: first, to examine the causes of radicalization in Isiolo county; second, to examine the role that women play in deradicalization in Isiolo county; and, third, to determine the impact of women’s deradicalization efforts in Isiolo county. My findings show that radicalization in Isiolo was caused by several factors, and these include: religion and parental influence, external stressors such as the effects of the collapse of the government of Somalia, the emergence of Al-Shabaab as a regional terror group, the generalized stereotyping of certain communities and the government’s high handed response. The study established that women are instrumental in the fight against radicalization in Isiolo county. In Seremala and ACDI Coca Cola villages, for instance, mothers were found to have used platforms including schools, places of worship, and social media to encourage other parents to be vigilant on foreigners recruiting young boys and girls into terror groups. Similarly, the study established that women’s groups such as the Isiolo Pastoral Women, Bull-Pesa Women Support Group, Isiolo Women of Faith Group, Isiolo Mothers for Peace, and Star of Hope Women, regularly mobilised women, youth and security organs to engage in open discussion forums on how to eradicate radicalization. This study also found out that as part of their deradicalisation effort, the named women’s groups invited selected members of these vulnerable groups to private and confidential counseling sessions and talks, which were conducted either in schools, colleges, churches or mosques. Furthermore, their deradicalisation strategy entailed open public discussions to create awareness on the serious effects of radicalization. During such public meetings, parents were encouraged to share their challenges and success stories. These public forums would also involve joint sporting activities such as football matches between the youth and security officers, which opened up additional channels for the community to share important information on terrorism with the authorities. One key outcome of these efforts was the creation of public awareness on radicalization. Another outcome was the reduction in the frequency of arbitrary arrests and detention of the youth by security agents. The study, through oral interviews, revealed two challenges facing the deradicalisation efforts by women in Isiolo county. One challenge was the secrecy associated with the young people suspected to have links with Al Shabaab, which complicates the deradicalisation efforts. The second one was the widespread use of the social media in facilitating the recruitment and dissemination of classified information about upcoming police operations. Finally, based on these findings, this study recommends further research on the role of social media as both a radicalisation platform and a resource for deradicalisation.