PS Internal Security and National Administration, Dr. Raymond Omollo, emphasized the ongoing challenges of violent extremism and peacebuilding efforts during the launch of the “Peace Building and Preventing Violent Extremism in East Africa Program.”

He highlighted that while Kenya has made strides, specific regions, including the capital, continue to face occasional extremist threats.

Reflecting on past tragedies such as Westgate, Mpeketoni, Garissa University, Dusit, and the recent Shakahola incident, Dr. Omollo noted, “These occurrences underscore the persistent threat of religiously motivated violence in our nation.”

He expressed deep concern over the devastating impact of these attacks, which have left Kenya in a constant state of vigilance.

Dr. Omollo also pointed to climate-induced competition for natural resources and border disputes, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, as additional drivers of extremism. “In these areas, pre-existing grievances are often exploited by extremist groups to further their agendas,” he explained.

Acknowledging the vulnerability of communities frequently targeted by extremist groups, he stressed that sustainable peace requires voluntary citizen involvement. “Social cohesiveness and peace cannot be enforced; they must be willingly embraced by citizens to be fully guaranteed and sustainable.”

Dr. Omollo highlighted Kenya’s recent strides in peacebuilding, including a significant initiative by President William Ruto in March 2023, which launched a comprehensive evaluation of Kenya’s Peacebuilding Architecture.

This framework, he shared, seeks to identify core conflict triggers and address risks of extremism related to political and identity-based conflicts, extremist ideologies, sensationalist media coverage, and limited economic opportunities that drive individuals toward radicalization.