Learning Brief: What Works to Address Violent Extremism in Kenya

Over the past few years, Search for Common Ground (Search) has implemented several projects in Kenya, Coastal Kenya in particular, to support countering violent extremism and other security challenges.
Recently, Search implemented two projects, namely:

• Justice for Peace, which aimed to increase constructive engagement between criminal justice sector actors and communities at risk of violent extremism (VE), funded by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism. The project started in October 2017 and was completed in October 2019; and
• Inuka! Phase II, which aims to increase the effectiveness and inclusiveness of community peace and security efforts involving vulnerable and marginalized youth in Coastal Kenya funded by the European Union. The project started in January 2018 and is expected to end in January 2021.

The following lessons learned were identified from the findings of the two projects’ combined evaluation, which should be integrated in future efforts to design and implement initiatives to counter violent extremism and, more broadly, promote peace in Kenya.

Click the PDF below to read the full Learning Brief.