Impact of Community Engagement in Countering Violent Extremism in Mombasa: A Case of Kisauni and Mvita Constituencies

Abstract

The escalation of violent extremism in Kenya’s coastal region, particularly in Mombasa County, poses complex challenges to national security and development. This study investigates the impact of community engagement in countering violent extremism with a specific focus on Kisauni and Mvita constituencies, areas historically vulnerable due to socio-economic marginalization and ideological manipulation. The research critically examines the role of civil society organizations in implementing localized countering violent extremism strategies. Grounded in social movement theory and community resilience theory, the study explores how CSOs mobilize resources, build networks and strengthen local capacities to resist extremist narratives. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study integrated qualitative and quantitative data through key informant interviews and surveys with an aspect of document analysis. Target participants included youth at risk, religious and community leaders, former extremists, civil society actors and local security agencies. The research further interrogated the influence of intervening variables such as religious ideologies, political environments, socio-economic disparities and government security frameworks on the success or limitation of civil society-led countering violent extremism efforts. Findings aimed to contribute to policy and practice by identifying effective and sustainable community-driven approaches, while offering recommendations to strengthen collaboration between civil society organizations and state actors in fostering peace and long-term counter-extremism strategies in Mombasa. The study found effectively employed diverse, youth-focused strategies, including community dialogues, mentorship, sports, and awareness campaigns, to counter violent extremism in Kisauni and Mvita. Culturally sensitive approaches, such as gender-separated forums, enhanced impact, though fragmentation and limited use of former extremist testimonies highlighted coordination and resource gaps. The research concluded that CSOs in Kisauni and Mvita faced significant challenges in countering violent extremism, including funding shortages, community distrust, government harassment, and youth unemployment, which undermined program sustainability. Fear of retaliation and poor CSO-government coordination further limited participation and impact. The research recommended that CSOs should strengthen community-driven initiatives, such as early warning systems, while authorities ensure transparent, rights-respecting responses as well as expanding the scope to feature onto the rest of the sub-counties in Mombasa and the 47 counties at large. The study also recommended that further studies should be done to explore the long-term impact of community engagement strategies in countering violent extremism in Kisauni and Mvita, Mombasa and also other counties in Kenya with a focus on evaluating the sustainability and scalability of CSO-led initiatives.