Kenya, Indonesia to Collaborate Against Violent Extremism
By Ayoub Mwangi
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Kenya and Indonesia have concluded a landmark peer-to-peer learning and exchange conference on preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE) through the adoption of holistic and inclusive strategies to tackle the vice.
The conference, which brought together key government officials, civil society representatives, community leaders, and experts from the two nations, emphasized the importance of strengthening a “whole of government” and “whole of society” approach towards PCVE.
Participants agreed that these comprehensive strategies are crucial in fostering sustainable peace and security.
“This conference marks an important milestone in Kenya and Indonesia’s partnership on PCVE.
By strengthening inclusive, localized, and collaborative approaches, we are laying the foundation for more resilient and peaceful communities,” says Phyllis Muema, the executive director of the Kenya Community Support Centre.
According to her it is critical that stakeholders build strong movement that involves the creative approaches at the local levels.
“It is crucial that we continue to build the capacity of our leaders and communities to counter violent extremism.”
The insights shared during this conference, according to Dionnissious Swasiono of the Indonesian National Counter Terrorism Agency BNPT, will inform the joint efforts moving forward.
During the conference, the growing influence of and threats of technology, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), and the rise of gamification were recognized as emerging challenges to PCVE efforts, which needed innovative and adaptive strategies.
There was a strong consensus on the need to entrench PCVE localization to ensure interventions are tailored to specific community contexts with delegates emphasizing that localized strategies must consider all members of the community and especially women and the youth.
The conference also resolved to continue recognizing the importance of upholding fundamental human rights, and the need to protect and promote freedom of religion and belief as a vital component of PCVE efforts.
Participants also underscored the need for rehabilitation and reintegration programs for former VE recruits to recognize the role of the community to ensure the efforts yielded fruits.
Both countries acknowledged the positive outcomes already achieved through the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
However, participants emphasized the need to pay closer attention to the differentiated roles and contributions of various actors, including women, youth, and traditional religious actors in PCVE programming.
The conference also included site visits to Kilifi and Kwale Counties apart from offering participants practical insights into community-driven PCVE initiatives and fostering knowledge-sharing on effective strategies.
The conference was jointly organized by JISRA Kenya and JISRA Indonesia with support from Mensen Men eet Missie, a Netherlands-based organization for international cooperation committed to changing beliefs that lead to discrimination, exclusion, and violence across the globe.
