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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 9, No. 6
Publication Date: June 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/assrj.96.12488. Kibaara, T. M. (2022). Influnce of Social-Economic Factors on Youth Radicalization in Garissa County: Kenya. Advances in Social
Sciences Research Journal, 9(6). 144-153.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Influnce of Social-Economic Factors on Youth Radicalization in
Garissa County: Kenya
Dr Kibaara Tarsilla M.
ABSTRACT
This study was set to study the influence of social-economic factors on
radicalization in Garissa county in Kenya. Radicalisation refers to a process by
which individuals are indoctrinated into an overtly ideological belief system that
encourages a shift from mainstream ethics to extremism. While violent
radicalisation appears to have been significantly neutralised in Coast, North
Eastern and Nairobi Counties, Garissa county is still threatened by youth
radicalization The study objectives were: Influence of Religious extremism in
radicalization, influence of Cattle rustling in tackling Radicalization, Influence of
poverty in radicalization. The study adopted descriptive survey research design in
which simple random and purposive sampling were used to select 10% sample size
from the target population of the study. The instruments of data collection included
questionnaires, and interviews. Study reliability and validity were established
through piloting of the instruments and expert judgements. The study outcomes
will inform policy formulation and enhance the body of knowledge in research. The
study found out that: Social-economic factors influenced youth radicalization to a
very great extent as compared. to religious extremism. The study also found out
that poverty played a major role in influencing radicalization in Garissa county in
Kenya.
Key Words: Radicalization, Religious Extemism, Cattle Rustling, Poverty.
YOUTH ARE INDOCTRINATED TO ISLAMIC RADICALIZATION
Table 1.1 Youth are indoctrinated to Islamic Radicalization
Category SA A N D SD
Local Chiefs and Village Elders 56 45 4 3 1
Clergy - Muslim 0 0 0 3 4
Clergy - Christian 0 6 1 0 0
Police Reservists and County
Police Commanders
5 6 1 2 1
32 25 1 2 5
THE EXTENT TO WHICH YOUTH ARE INDOCTRINATED TO ISLAMIC RADICALAZATION
The highest number Local Chiefs and Village Elders who strongly agreed that youth are
indoctrinated to Islamic radicalization were 56 (51%) and 45 (41%) agreed on the same
opinion. Out of the total number of respondents in this category, 4 (4%) were neutral and 3
(3%) disagreed to this opinion. The least number (1) (1%) strongly disagreed. Obviously this
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Kibaara, T. M. (2022). Influnce of Social-Economic Factors on Youth Radicalization in Garissa County: Kenya. Advances in Social Sciences Research
Journal, 9(6). 144-153.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.96.12488
explains validates the assertion most of the heinous crimes are committed by the youth in the
name of protecting Islamic faith.
Response from the Muslim clergy reveal a very interesting finding because 4 (57%) strongly
disagreed that it is the youth who are indoctrinated to the Islamic radicalization. And 3 (43%)
also disagreed to this assertion. The Muslim clergy appears to dispute that indoctrination may
is a preserve of the youth.
The clergy response showed the highest respondents (6) (86%) as those who agreed that it is
the youth who are indoctrinated to Islamic radicalization. Only 1 (14%) was neutral. This kind
of finding is illustrative that the youth are more vulnerable to Islamic radicalization.
The response from the Police Reservists and County Police Commanders showed that those
who agreed that the youth are indoctrinated to the Islamic radicalization were 6 (40%) while
those who strongly agreed on the same were 5 (33%). Only 2 (13%) disagreed and 1 (7%)
strongly disagreed A similar number with those who were neutral on the opinion. This finding
confirms that the youth are more exposed to Islamic radicalization.
INFLUENCE OF RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM YOUTH RADICALIZATION
Table 1.2. Religion Extremism Influence Radicalization
Category Frequency Percentage
Strongly Agree 34 25
Agree 56 40%
Neutral 9 6%
Disagree 6 4%
Strongly Disagree 33 23%
Total 138 100%
THE EXTENT TO WHICH RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM INFLUENCES RADICALIZATION
Majority of the respondents 56(40%) agreed that religion extremism influenced radicalization
while 34(25%) strongly agreed. While 33(23%) were strongly disagreeing. 9(6%) were neutral
to answering the question and only 6(4%) disagreed. This is a revelation that recruitment to
radicalization was based on teachings in religion forums in Garissa County. These findings
concur with Barro, Robert, Jason and Rachel (2010).who argues that religious conversion is a
form of radicalization.
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 9, Issue 6, June-2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Table 1,3 Influence of Cattle Rustling on Youth Radicalization
Category SA A N D SD
Local Chiefs and Village
Elders
6 15 14 34 40
Clergy - Muslim 0 0 0 4 3
Clergy - Christian 0 0 5 2 0
Police Reservists and
County Police
Commanders
6 4 2 2 1
THE EXTENT TO WHICH CATTLE RUSTLING HAS INFLUENCED YOUTH RADICALIZATION
IN CARISSA COUNTY
Findings from this study showed that Local Chiefs and Village Elders strongly agreed that cattle
rustling influenced youth radicalization to a great extent. This was represented by a high
response rate of 40 respondents (37%).A closer number of respondents (34) (31%) disagreed
to this opinion while 15 (14%) agreed on this assertion. Out of the total respondents in this
category, 14 (13%) were neutral. The least number of respondents in this category (6) (6%)
did chose not to support either opinion. Out of the opinions collected from the Local Chiefs and
Village Elders.
The majority of Muslim Clergy respondents (4) (57%) disagreed that there was cattle rustling
influence on youth radicalization in Garrissa County while 3 (43%) strongly disagreed on any
cattle rustling radicalization experience in their county.
The Christian Clergy respondents had the highest number (5) (71%) of those who were neutral
on the influence of cattle rustling on youth radicalization in Garrissa County, The findings in
this objective indicate that cattle rustling in Garissa County has very little influence on youth
radicalization.
The Police Reservists and County Police Commanders had the highest number of respondents
(6)(40%) who strongly agreed cattle rustling had strong influceon youth radicalization in
Garrissa county. This could be as a result of their their experience cattle rustlers conflicts in
the county. This finding can lead to a conclusion that though cattle rustling in Garrissa county
has little influence on youth radicalization. , These findings differ with the with the findings byb
Koutroubas, Vloeberghs, & Yanasmayan (2009), who equated radicalization to scenarios with
the deep-rooted rivalries between the Turkish and the Kurdish populations which played a
significant role in the radicalisation of either ethnicities.
Table 1.4: Poverty Influences Youth Radicalization
Category SA A N D SD
Local Chiefs and Village Elders 49 43 4 7 6
Clergy - Muslim 0 0 4 1 2
Clergy - Christian 0 5 1 1 0
Police Reservists and County
Police Commanders
6 4 1 1 3
County Garissa 28 22 6 4 5