A section of youth, religious leaders, peace committees, community elders and CSOs attends a peace dialogue from at Marianist College in Msambweni, Kwale County in January 2025.
BY SHABAN OMAR
A coastal-based NGO, Human Development Agenda (HUDA), in collaboration with local communities and youth in Kwale County, has initiated a peace dialogue program aimed at countering violent extremism and addressing juvenile gang activities in the region.
The initiative, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the USAID Sauti Yangu, Amani Yangu program, seeks to strengthen community-driven resilience against violent extremism in targeted areas.
The project also aims to establish an inclusive, responsive, and self-sustaining system to prevent and counter violent extremism in Kenya.
HUDA Program Officer Kashi Jermaine said focusing on community-driven approaches, the initiative seeks to empower local stakeholders to take a proactive role in addressing insecurity and fostering long-term peace.
Human Development Agenda Program Officer Kashi Jermaine addresses stakeholders during a peace dialogue forum at Marianist College in Msambweni, Kwale County in January 2025.
Jermaine, said that the project is particularly targeting Msambweni and Lunga-Lunga sub-counties, areas that have experienced heightened cases of insecurity.
Some of the targeted areas include Vanga, Shimoni, Bonge/Gombato, Ukunda and Kinondo.
According to him, the areas have been grappling with challenges such as youth involvement in juvenile gangs, radicalization, and violent activities, which undermine peace and social cohesion.
He said the peace dialogue initiative involves key community players, including religious leaders, peace committees, youth representatives and village elders from the grassroots level.
A youth expresses his opinion on matters of peace and security during a peace forum at Marianist College in Msambweni, Kwale County in January 2025.
Jermaine said through peace talk forums, the program seeks to equip participants with tools and knowledge to identify early signs of extremism and work collaboratively to address underlying issues that often contribute to insecurity.
“By fostering open communication and mutual understanding, the initiative aims to build a safer environment where all stakeholders feel represented and heard,” he said.
The Officer said through the program’s locally-driven approach, the initiative hopes to not only mitigate existing threats but also build a framework for sustainable peace and security in Kwale and beyond.
Jermaine said during the meetings several challenges were raised by stakeholders that contribute to insecurity and violent extremism in the region.
He said among the key issues mentioned are the porous nature of the Kenya-Tanzania border, which facilitates illegal cross-border activities, drug abuse, youth rivalry, unemployment, lack of resource mobilization for youth, land injustices, and corruption.
Jermaine said factors create an environment conducive to the growth of criminal networks and violent extremism.
National Council of Churches of Kenya PWD representative Geoffrey Wanyoike said that religious clerics will utilize places of worship to advocate for peace and harmony in the community.
He urged parents to play a supportive role and cooperate in disciplining their children involved in criminal activities to help restore peace.
Wanyoike expressed disappointment over the tendency of some parents to be overly protective when their children are linked to criminal behavior, often shielding them from facing the law.
A parent, Mariam Sarai, criticized male parents for neglecting their parental responsibilities.
National Council of Churches of Kenya PWD representative Geoffrey Wanyoike speaks during a peace forum at Marianist College in Kwale County in January 2025.
She said that, in many cases, women are left to handle indisciplined children on their own, as fathers often choose not to get involved.
A youth, Khalfan Ali said that the lack of inclusion in development projects pushes many young people toward criminal activities.
He said there is a need for mentorship and empowerment programs to help transform the lives of the youth and steer them away from crime.
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