Factors that motivate youth towards terrorism in Mombasa county, Kenya

Abstract

This study was focused on the factors that motivate youth towards terrorism and involvement in terrorist activities in Mombasa County - Kenya. Terrorism is a global crime, and social problem world over. One of the most popular methods of solving these crime has always been through the use of military intervention and waging war on dissidents, a method that has failed to bear any fruits in the fight against terrorism. Most studies focusing on Terrorism touch on the actual physical conflicts and the impacts of the violence on society. There is very limited information regarding the reasons why people engage in terrorism, the motivating factors and above all why mostly the youth are the ones we find more attracted to radical terror activities in recent times. This study was an assessment of the factors that promote youth involvement in terror activities in Mombasa County Kenya. The general objective of this study was to analyse the impact of terrorism amongst youth in Kenya and specifically Mombasa County. This research was grounded on the strain Theories and social disorganization theories. Both primary and secondary data was used. Primary data was obtained using questionnaires and key informant interviews. A total of 127 respondents were interviewed. The findings were analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences, while content analysis was done for the qualitative data. The study found that terrorism and youth is so entrenched and this comes about because of various factors that range from religion, radicalization, youth upbringing, government policies, education and religious teachings especially with relation to Islam and the feeling of neglect and marginalization. The study concludes that unemployment, poverty, religion, lack of skills, peer influence and the family influence among the youth in Mombasa County contributed to their attitude towards terrorism. For a change to be realised and sustained, deliberate efforts must be made to help avert this impending social problem in Mombasa County and Kenya as a whole. This will require concerted efforts from the family institution, learning Institutions, religious organs, civil society and above all Government intervention to curb the terrorism vice.