This is the right strategy to beat terrorism

The most remarkable thing that has emerged from the tragic attack on Garissa University College is the “inward-looking” perspective that the leadership and, by extension, the residents of the northeastern region have adopted.

After it emerged that a homegrown terrorist masterminded the massacre, political and religious leaders from the region announced that they would take the lead in smoking out potential terrorists and the purveyors of extremism and their support networks.

Kenyans should support this initiative for one simple reason: for a long time we have had to be content with myths about terrorism. Now, for the first time, we are being honest about the fact that this menace is homegrown and that it has definite patterns.

One of the most common myths is that poverty and unemployment lead young people to join terrorism. Several arguments have been made that the historical economic neglect of the former North Eastern Province has much to do with young people seeking solace in extremist outfits.

Similar arguments have been made to explain the rise of militant groups such as the Mombasa Republican Council and other radicalised outfits at the Coast. Those who believe this argument assume that huge infrastructure developments, devolution, and employment will stymie the spread of terrorism.

DOMINATION AND DISPOSSESSION

The history of man is that of dispossession and domination. All communities have their own narratives of domination and dispossession. Great powers such as the United States, Canada, and Australia have dark histories where minorities were annihilated and violently dispossessed of land, culture, and identity, yet history has little evidence of the offended communities electing terror as a method to right historical wrongs.

The other popularly held myth is that sending the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to Somalia is the cause of terrorism in Kenya. This is not entirely correct. Experts have shown that new terrorist groups such as Islamic State, Nigeria’s Boko Haram, and even Al-Shabaab cannot possibly be appeased by any policy changes since the “caliphates” they seek are too idealistic to be delivered in any negotiated settlement. That is why it would be foolish to try to negotiate with them.

So, what causes terrorism, especially the homegrown type that is bedevilling us? Well, it is not poverty and it is not the KDF in Somalia. It has little to do with our history or any particular religion. It has a lot to do with words.

Like any form of violence, acts of terrorism are directly related to words people have read or heard in places of worship, at home, or in other social places. It is words that stir, inspire, radicalise, and move people to steal, kill and destroy. Words are the only direct link research has to the violence such as that witnessed at Garissa.

The campaign led by the leaders from the northeastern region, focused on identifying radical preachers, documenting of “lost” sons, and disruption of extremist social networks, is smart for one simple reason: it lays emphasis on local discourse. In looking inwards, the effort seeks to be honest and not to lay blame on external factors and grand myths.

Dr Omanga is the head of the Department of Publishing and Media Studies at Moi University. [email protected]