Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism : An Evaluation of Socio-Cultural Factors Underpinning the Sustainability of Programs in Lamu County, Kenya

Abstract

For more than a decade, Lamu County, Kenya, has faced violent extremism rooted in historical grievances, socio-political marginalisation, and social inequality. In Kenya, authorities define violent extremism as the radicalisation of individuals who engage in or support violence to advance illiberal and undemocratic ideologies. This article analyses how socio-cultural factors shape the sustainability of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) programmes in Lamu. The authors examined how cultural, religious, and socio-economic factors influence community responses to P/CVE interventions through surveys and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with 431 respondents, including government officials, security personnel, religious leaders, and community members. The authors applied the Theory of Change to explain how interventions aim to achieve outcomes and the Social Exchange Theory to explain how perceived costs and benefits influence community engagement. The analysis shows that while government and security actors demonstrate high awareness of P/CVE strategies, inadequate coordination, limited training, and persistent mistrust constrain implementation. Cultural and religious institutions strengthen resilience through traditional conflict resolution, yet gender exclusion and political marginalisation weaken broader participation and threaten sustainability. The article argues that sustainable P/CVE efforts in Lamu require shifting from a security-centric model toward inclusive, culturally grounded approaches that foster collaboration across state and community actors.