Send message to Authors

Paper short abstract:

The paper addresses the concept of territoriality, with the emphasis that Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) needs inclusive and strategic policies such as the philosophy of Community-Oriented-Policing (COP), the paper addresses how COP in Kenya adopts inclusive policies.

Paper long abstract:

Since the emergence of al-Shabaab in 2006, radicalization has bought anxiety to communities in the Horn of Africa. Focusing on Kenya, the paper examines and evaluates how governments' security tactics have countered violent extremism, addressing territoriality —control of spaces in the context of organized violence —monopolizing or legitimizing the use of force. With the emphasis that Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) needs inclusive and strategic policies such as the philosophy of Community-Oriented-Policing (COP), the paper addresses how COP in Kenya adopts inclusive policies. It interrogates how the philosophy and strategy of COP help in CVE and strongly points out how government tactical policies contribute to Violent Extremism (VE) rather than countering it. The paper links the sporadic al-Shabaab attacks since 2011, the increasing extrajudicial killings, and community policing tactics. Digging into contextual features of community policing, it interrogates the Nyumba Kumi initiative and Community Policing Authority.

The paper's methodology is enriched by the two authors' experience, having worked closely with the Kenyan police and various communities in Kenya. The article also includes interviews from Nairobi slum areas affected by extrajudicial killings, such as Eastleigh, Mathare, Dandora, and Kayole. The paper concludes that blending cultural traits and governance structure into community policing helps counter violent extremism. The conclusion and recommendation are arrived at after the triangulation of the interviews with the documents from government institutions and academic writings.