TANA RIVER COUNTY LAUNCHES ITS ACTION PLAN ON COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM
Tana River County Governor Major (Rtd) Dr. Dhadho Godhana has led the county leadership and its residents in the launch of the county’s Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism. The fight against countering violent extremism in Tana River County will cost stakeholders a budget of approximately Sixty million shillings per annum. That is according to Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE) which played a key role in guiding the initiative of development of the Tana River County Action Plan on countering violent extremism. Addressing Tana River County residents during a launch of Tana River Action Plan for Countering violence and Extremism CVE held at Hola Primary school, executive director for (KECOSCE) Ms. Phyllis Muema told the stakeholders that for the Action Plan to succeed they should make sure the money is set aside.
The stakeholders would set aside 57 million shillings annually in three years and 10 million shillings in the fourth and fifth year
“This Action Plan will cost the county government and other stakeholders 57 million shillings every year in three years then in the fourth and Fifth year,10 million shillings will be set aside. The county government should not be left alone to raise the funds, the contribution should be sought from diverse stakeholders including National Government, the county government of Tana River, development partners, civil society organizations, faith based organizations, foundations and well-wishers, the business community and other groups,” said Muema.
The members of Assembly present led by their majority leader Ibrahim Salah promised to approve the budget of the said funds.
Tana River governor Major Dhadho Godhana said that his government would fight tirelessly as the county recently has increasingly been a recruitment zone of Al -Shabaab.
“There is no reason for youths joining Al-Shabaab on the execuse that there are no jobs. I also tarmacked before getting a job but I did not give up. We have many here without jobs but are they joining the militia? No,” said the governor. The County Governor has initiated projects that have the ability to absorb all its youth and engage them in meaningful and legitimate activities instead of joining extremism and threaten the county’s development Agenda.
The Action Plan has eleven pillars including Security, Political, Education, Training and capacity building, Arts and culture, Economic, Gender and Child protection, Faith based and ideological, Media and online, Psycho social, legal and policy.
Through the Action Plan the stakeholders identified hotspots for violent extremists in the county. Those areas were listed as Tana Delta, Boji, Laza, Bura, Nyangoro, Lango la Simba, Madogo, Malindi ya Ngwena, Gamba, Chewani, Garsen, Wayu, Ozi, Moa, Mikinduni, Matangeni and Makere.
The Action Plan proposed annual convention to be held every year whereby the county commissioner and the governor shall chair the convention jointly and bringing together all actors of the CVE.
Tana River has been one of the counties listed as a recruitment hotspot for violent extremist groups with its youth reported to be migrating to Mandera and Kwale counties where they are involved in violent extremism. The Governor called on Tana River Residents to shun away from historical violent approaches to resolve conflicts and instead join him and the County Assembly to rebuild the county. The County Commissioner Mr. Aniangoi Ole Sossio warned residents against withdrawing children out of school and threatened to arrest all parents who do not support the government efforts to ensure all children access education and shun away from illegal practices.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL TANA RIVER COUNTY ACTION PLAN TO PREVENT AND COUNTER VIOLENT EXTREMISM HERE