Kenya Hosts Policy Dialogue To Strengthen Youth Engagement In Countering Violent Extremism
The Mt Kenya Times 
Col. Emmanuel Chirchir issuing his address at the roundtable discussion
By: Cynthia Masibo
Kenya has taken another major step in addressing youth involvement in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE). A high-level Policy Dialogue Seminar was held in Nairobi under the theme “Implementation of NSPCVE 2025-2030 in Practice: A Focus on Youth Engagement and Marginalization in PCVE in Kenya.” The event brought together policymakers, civil society organizations, youth leaders, development partners, and PCVE practitioners to discuss actionable solutions for enhancing youth resilience and engagement.
The seminar was organized under the National Integrated PCVE Initiative (NiPi) Policy Discourse Series by Sharp Development Solutions (SDS) Consulting, YADEN East Africa, Champions of Peace – Kenya, and Grassroots Impact Advisors. It was held in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands. The forum aimed to address challenges hindering meaningful youth participation in PCVE efforts while developing strategies to foster inclusivity and sustainability.
Colonel Emmanuel Chirchir, Chief Liaison Officer for Counter-Terrorism at NCTC, delivered the keynote address at the seminar. He emphasized the critical role of youth in countering violent extremism and highlighted the importance of empowering young people to become agents of change within their communities. “Youth are not just beneficiaries of PCVE programs; they are key stakeholders whose ideas and energy must drive our strategies,” Col. Chirchir stated.
The discussions centered on Kenya’s National Strategy to Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (NSPCVE) 2025-2030, which has made notable progress in combating violent extremism.
Participants also deliberated on building youth resilience against radicalization risk factors. Col. Chirchir underscored the need for a collaborative approach involving government ministries, security agencies, civil society organizations, development partners, and youth groups.
Kenya’s efforts to counter violent extremism have increasingly recognized the pivotal role of young people. Violent extremist groups often exploit vulnerabilities among marginalized youth for recruitment. The NSPCVE advocates for empowering young leaders as peace ambassadors within their communities.
Dr. Rosalind Nyawira, Director of Kenya’s National Counter Terrorism Centre, echoed Col. Chirchir’s sentiments by emphasizing that empowering young people with tools, guidance, and opportunities is essential for reducing susceptibility to radicalization.
The seminar underscored that countering violent extremism requires a multi-layered approach involving both state and non-state actors. Participants identified gaps such as politicization and inefficiencies in current youth-focused initiatives while emphasizing the need for integrated efforts rather than siloed interventions.
By bringing diverse stakeholders together for candid discussions and knowledge exchange, this dialogue aimed to generate concrete recommendations to inform Kenya’s PCVE strategies moving forward. It also explored innovative methods for engaging youth through education, countering hate speech, and gender-sensitive approaches.
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