War on terrorism breeds extremism, says Institute for Security Studies report

Kenya’s counter-terrorism strategy has contributed to the increased number of youths that join extremist groups, a new report shows.

The assassination of Muslim clerics, arbitrary arrests and ethnic profiling were some of the harmful tactics adopted by security agencies, the Institute for Security Studies said on Wednesday.

As a result, disgruntled youths joined Somalia terrorist group Al-Shabaab and more were recruited into secessionist Mombasa Republican Council.

The Radicalisation in Kenya report also says: “Security is increasingly being politicised. Instead of attempting to bring people together, politicians are harnessing political divisions for their own ends, which further threatens national unity.”

The document states that Muslim youth had joined the groups as a counter-reaction to what they saw as government-imposed ‘collective punishment’ driven by the misguided perception that all Somali and Kenyan Somalis were potential terrorists.

“As long as Kenyans identify with ethnicity or religion perceived as under threat, radicalisation will increase,” it warns.

The report gives the example of the Mpeketoni attacks in which 60 people were killed in June, saying that whereas Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility, the government heaped blame on local politics.

The ISS released the document a week after a separate report by Independent Policing Oversight Authority indicated that the attacks were a combined effort of Al-Shabaab and MRC.

'SELF-RADICALISATION'

Senior researcher Anneli Botha said after releasing the report at the ISS Nairobi office that the findings disputed the idea that poverty drew youths to Al-Shabaab.

“The authorities here like to think it is because of poverty. They think because it has worked in another country, it will work here. We have shared our information with all police chiefs in the region and it shows the primary factor is the way we respond. It’s like self-radicalisation,” Dr Botha said.

“Mass arrests without being taken to court and killings will deteriorate the situation. All the actions will have long-term consequences. It will have a ripple effect, starting with the person (victim), to the friends and finally the community.”

The research referred to operation Usalama Watch, the massive crackdown launched in April and concentrated in Eastleigh, during which suspects were detained at Safaricom Stadium and at police stations in Nairobi.

The institute relied on interviews with Al-Shabaab and MRC members, as well as their relatives.

Dr Botha said: “It shows very clear differences in the motivation of people who join MRC and Al-Shabaab. MRC is driven by ethnic and economic factors, while Al-Shabaab is radical Islam, and the two have a common enemy in the government. It would be wrong to place extremists from both groups under one banner.”