It is good that Kenya has a sober, strategic commitment to tackle terrorism

Women at a function about countering violent extremism at PrideInn hotel in Mombasa on July 20, 2016. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The government should not be surprised as to public anxiety and need to understand what a strategy to counter violent extremism would entail.
  • Citizens are curious to know whether it will adequately respond to countrywide concerns.

Reading No Higher Honor by Condoleezza Rice, at a moment when we all remember the 9/11 attacks for which the recent Mombasa police station incident was supposedly commemorating, has been very enlightening. It is also timely considering the rise of Isis affiliated Jabha East Africa terror organisation just about the time Kenya remembers the Westgate Mall attack.

In such times, the public always demands decisive if not outright repressive responses from state officials mainly out of immediate anger. Previously that anger was directed at the Somali community and it is likely Muslim women will unfortunately be under the stereotypical microscope in the next few days.

Yet, as noted by Dr Rice, it is often ignored what it means for those on whose watch such horrific events occur. The shock, sorrow and self disappointment is a heavy burden state operatives bear as they recollect on what they could have missed or done better.

Consequently they can only overcome the ghastly impact of terror attempting to shake their sense of service and responsibility by: securing the country; reassuring the public; planning to vanquish the enemy; and implementing disruptive actions towards the country’s adversaries in a consistent manner.

For Kenyan “securocrats” a major challenge has been how to win public support during previous terrorist attacks. Officials are often at a loss as to how citizen anger towards the government often times exceeds outrage at terrorists.

BOIL OVER

Other than the frustrations over the propensity of incidents, various other historical or structural grievances with regard to civil, military or police relations tend to boil over. This normally adds to the complexity of developing a patriotic fervor to cultivate countrywide support and cooperation needed during such difficult times.

Meanwhile institutions also have to mind that while it is their responsibility to act swiftly and proactively in retaliation to attacks, these responses should not relapse the country in authoritarianism if not outright totalitarian governance as captured by wholesome profiling of populations, indiscriminate use of force and extra-judicial actions.

Subsequent to three major attacks on Kenya both within its territory and its ongoing counter- terrorism war initiative under the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), among other countless attempts, Kenyans should welcome the development of a National Strategy on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE).

This serves as an opportunity to deal with and rectify a lot of things that could have been seen or perceived as what is wrong with Kenya’s version of the “war on terror”. It is indeed a great way to offer recompense as a country to those who have lost lives, been injured or had their livelihoods affected.

STRATEGIC COMMITMENT

It is a good reflection that the country has a strategic and sober commitment to tackle terrorism in the long term. New threats need new rules of engagement and new forms of coordination. It could also help dispel obsolete decision making structures that may have contributed to existing chaos as perceived by the citizenry.

Having a framework for CVE working besides existing counter-terrorism initiatives shows that, despite the extreme caution of functioning in uncharted waters, Kenya is keen to retain its democratic resolve in matters concerning its security.

Repairing the injured psyche of the state means the country has to move from the siege mentality of being constantly under attack. A CVE strategy, therefore, communicates this intention to not only deal with actions of perpetrators and their affiliate groups but also the conditions that foment the ideology driving them.

Government should, therefore, not be surprised as to public anxiety and need to understand what such a strategy would entail. Citizens are curious to know whether the national CVE strategy adequately responds to countrywide concerns.

Deep and wide conversations could help inculcate a civil protection agenda that offers mechanisms to constructively deal with emerging radicalisation among the Kenyan population. This is especially critical in dealing with reportedly new groups such as Jabha East Africa which is linked to increasing radicalisation of youth over the internet and combatant recruitment of women.

Leonard Wanyama is a development practitioner and a part-time lecturer of international relations.