International Journal of Arts and Humanities

Role of Education in Prevention of Violent Extremism amongst Youth in Kenya

Abstract:  The twenty-first century has shown that global terrorism has taken various forms and expressions depending on the context. This means that currently a lot of attention centres on preventing violent extremism and radicalisation that lead to terrorism. Thus, effectively tackling violent extremism has encouraged various approaches that have resulted in broader shifts towards the prevention of terrorism by redirecting efforts to address an environment conducive to extremists spreading their ideologies and recruiting supporters. In Africa, education is one of the many ways used to leverage, and to both radicalise and to de-radicalise, young people. Recent times have proven that education has a role in the prevention of extremism by acting as a positive tool for building resilience against violent extremism, particularly when the quality of education incorporates appropriate pedagogies and teaches approaches that impart competencies in young people. This paper found that in the Kenyan context, both formal and informal education have a role based on the potential to confront underlying factors that encourage violent extremism, some of which include feelings of exclusion, the lack of recognition of equal rights, and/or prejudices towards diversity. This article concludes that high-quality education helps shape attitudes and behaviours that in turn erode violent ideologies. In this regard, promoting education for the prevention of violent extremism requires continuous efforts and nurturing from an early age of a combination of values that are core to building cohesive societies. The recommendation is that education is a tool to build learners' resilience to extremism and mitigate the drivers of these phenomena. It helps strengthen their commitment to non-violence and peace, in particular by addressing hateful narratives. At the county government level, it's important to make sure that education's role in preventing violent extremism is carried out in a way that works for the communities it affects and that policies and programs are in line with international standards that protect human rights and dignity.

Keywords: Education, Deterrence, Violent Extremism, Radicalization, Terrorism, Message