Impacts of Community Policing in the Prevention of Radicalization in North Eastern Region of Kenya, Wajir County

The goal of this study was to examine the importance of community policing on youth radicalization in the North Eastern region of Kenya, Wajir County. Study indicated that there is the rise in radicalization of the youth in the North Eastern region and subsequent terrorist attacks in the region in the past one decade. To achieve this goal, the study was guided by three specific objectives. The first objective was to determine the influence of radicalization on conflict level in Wajir County, North Eastern region of Kenya. The second objective was to analyze the role of community policing in de-radicalization and reducing conflict level in Wajir County, North Eastern region of Kenya. The final objective was to explain the challenges and opportunities of community policing in de-radicalization and conflict level in Wajir County, North Eastern region of Kenya. This study adopted a parallel convergent mixed methods approach supported by interpretivism and positivism research philosophies to collect and analyse both qualitative and quantitative data from the study participants. The qualitative data was collected using the semi-structured interview guides and analyzed using both thematic and content analysis. This data was collected from targeted 20 security agencies, 10 local administrators and 20 clan elders in Wajir County, and 15 senior employees/officers working in the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, and 15 senior officers in Kenya Police Service at national level in Nairobi. On the other hand, quantitative data was collected from 113 youths in Wajir County using self-administered questionnaire forms. The qualitative data collected using the semi-structured interview guides was analyzed using both thematic and content analysis. The numerical data collected using self-administered questionnaire forms was analyzed using both thematic and content analysis. The integrated findings showed that community policing is necessary in addressing the radicalization problems and conflict in Wajir County.