“Kenyans go to Somalia to look for jobs and in the process they get lured into terror activities. We need to create employment for the youth”
Addressing social injustices and creating jobs is the only way to counter extremism, Somali envoy Mariam Yassin said on Thursday.
She spoke in Kwale town during the first county colloquium on countering violent extremism. Yassin, Somalia’s special envoy for children, said violent extremism is a global issue which needs to be tackled at the community, national, regional and international levels.
“Many of us live in fear because we don’t know when the militants will strike next,” she said at Matuga School of Government.
The two-day workshop was organised by NGO Human Rights Agenda and attracted 100 participants from across the globe. Yassin said: “Job creation is critical because unemployment is one of the reasons Kenyan youths flock to Somalia and join al Shabaab. Let us be united in diversity. That is where our strength lies.”
Act! Executive Director Anne Nyabera said extremist groups are a threat to national security and tackling terrorism requires a comprehensive counter-violence strategy.”
“Partnership is critical to counter violent extremism,” she said. NGO Coordination Board Executive Director Fazul Mohamed said extremism can be countered at the community level.
Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya said the county is ready to work with civil society groups and the national government to develop short-term and long-term strategies to address extremism. “This county has borne the brunt of violent extremism. This has hurt not only Kwale’s economy, but that of the entire country. It is true Kwale is facing a big problem and this colloquium is timely,” he said during a forum discussing fighting terror. Mvurya said the war on terror can be won by influencing people through dialogue. “Involving the community is important because they are the first to respond when anything happens. We need to enhance confidence, capacity, and strength of communities,” he said. Act! Executive Director Anne Nyabera said: “Partnership is between counties and civil society groups is critical to counter violent extremism
