Security stakeholders in Homa Bay County have been challenged to put in place stringent measures to deter terrorism and violent extremism.
Homa Bay Sub County Deputy County Commissioner Jude Wesonga said there was need for extra vigilance to ensure agents of radicalization were apprehended.
Speaking today during a workshop for state and non-state actors in a Homa Bay hotel, Wesonga said the fight against terrorism will only succeed through community involvement.
Wesonga hailed the partnership between the National Counter terrorism Centre and Champions of Peace courtesy of the Netherland government.
The administrator noted that the partnership had so far developed the Homa Bay County action plan toward Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE).
He said that the County Action Plan will step up the efforts to sensitize residents on measures to detect and prevent radicalization in the area.
Head of Prevention and Resilience Njenga Miiri told the stakeholders that terrorists go for soft targets and the best approach is to harden soft targets areas like churches and schools through enhanced vigilance.
Champions of Peace Programme Director Elly Opondo said the workshop was to help the team come up with a road map on how to strengthen implementation of the County Action Plan.
Opondo said radicalization and recruitment was infiltrating counties earlier thought to be safe including Homa Bay.
He noted that the youth are becoming more vulnerable to recruitment for diverse reasons.
“The youth are more vulnerable because they lack jobs and even family support,” he said.
Opondo called on families and religious leaders to work together to strengthen social networks to insulate young against radicalization.
by Davis Langat
