What Women Know: the Epistemology of Mothers on Violent Extremism and Terrorism in Kenya

Abstract

This study centres women, including mothers, as knowers, sources, and owners of knowledge that can be harnessed to inform violent extremism and terrorism discourse (VET). Although Kenya has elaborate legislative policies and frameworks on countering violent extremism and terrorism including the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the National Strategy to Counter Violent Extremism, and 47 County Action Plans to Prevent and Counter Violent Extremism, nevertheless, the knowledge and experiences of mothers of male al Shabaab recruits has not been included in measures to address VET. As a result, in analysing the impact of violent extremism and terrorism, the Global Terrorism Index in 2024, ranked Kenya 18 out of 163 countries. This study relies on mothers’ epistemology to critique the structural blind spots and biases inherent in legislative and policy frameworks and strategies on violent extremism and terrorism. It utilises African feminist research to document the experiences of twenty-one mothers of male al-Shabaab recruits from Majengo, Nairobi. Until now, existing literature has failed to capture the contribution of mothers of male al-Shabaab recruits to the discourse on addressing violent extremism and terrorism (VET). Ultimately, this thesis aims to influence and improve VET policy formulation and implementation through the inclusion of mothers’ perspectives. The study concludes that what mothers know is critical in ensuring that VET policies and strategies are more effective. This is by moving away from a securitised approach to a holistic one that includes addressing existing social vulnerabilities, financing mothers' initiatives to address VET, and including them as key actors in the rehabilitation and reintegration processes.