Factors Influencing Disengagement from Violent Extremism A Case of Majengo-Pumwani Slum, Nairobi-Kenya

Abstract

In Majengo-Pumwani slum in Nairobi City County, Kenya, many youths who had joined Al-Shabaab terrorist group in Somalia have quietly sneaked back into the community thus presenting a security risk to the rest of the society. Therefore, this study investigated the factors for disengagement and rehabilitation from violent extremism in Majengo-Pumwani slum. The study used mixed method research design involving interviews, focus groups and survey. The study used Krejcie-Morgan sample table to calculate the optimum sample size giving a confidence level of 90% with an acceptable margin of 5% error. Quantitative data was coded, entered and analyzed by means of both inferential and descriptive statistics using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Data collection instruments used in this study are questionnaires from 195 participants, key informant interview guides from 3 participants and focus group discussions with 17 participants. Based on this calculation, a total of 217 respondents participated in this study (n=217). The main finding showed that the desire by extremist individuals to begin normal lives away from violence would make them shun and disengage from terrorism thus catalyzing their rehabilitation. Thus, a structured framework is necessary for rehabilitating Al-Shabaab extremists in Majengo Pumwani slum. The study advocates for practical policy interventions for the disengagement and rehabilitation of returnees. These policy interventions should include providing education and skills development to the returnees, community involvement in their rehabilitation as well as having well established legal and institutional measures for conducive disengagement process.