Calls for peaceful co-existence as Kenya marks Day of Preventing Violent Extremism

The call was made by the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) on Monday while marking the second International Day of  Prevention of Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism.

Reflecting on Kenya's progress, NCTC said the day will be used to reflect on ways to prevent the spread of radical ideologies that preach intolerance, hate and violence in our society.

"This requires each one of us to be vigilant against attempts to sow discord to justify extremist violence, terrorism and other threats to national security," NCTC said in a statement. 

"While the State has the primary responsibility of fighting terrorism, the whole society must reject violent extremism, the seed out of which terrorism germinates, from taking root in our social bedrock. This is also crucial to disrupting the ability of terrorists to recruit followers from our midst."

NCTC said it is implementing the National Strategy on Countering Violent Extremism (NSCVE), which advocates for an all-of-society approach to eliminating extremism.

Further, the Centre said it has made milestones in Prevention and Countering of Violent Extremism (PCVE) by rallying a diverse array of State and non-State actors in identifying and dealing with the factors driving VE in Kenya.

"Greater involvement of communities and community-based groups in preventing and countering terrorism has resulted in enhanced vigilance especially in areas considered more vulnerable to terror attack," it further said.

NCTC also said that the national prevention strategy has been successfully cascaded to the counties, with the 47 devolved units at various stages of formulating and enforcing policies and laws targeting extremism at the community level.   

 "There is also now greater public awareness of the dangers of radicalization, with parents, teachers and caregivers being sensitized on how to look out for online recruitment of children and youth by terrorist networks."