Kenya’s system of education has been cited as one of the contributing factors to the increasing cases of radicalisation of youths, a Muslim cleric has said.
Ahmed Idris, an Imam at Jamia mosque in Makina, Kibera, attributed radicalisation to how learners are trained while pursuing their studies in schools.
He said the education system is grade-oriented hence is producing youths with no life skills and lack of vision.
“We ought to train our youths on how to create jobs and how to live in society so that when they complete their studies, they can be innovative and not walk from office to office looking for jobs. Frustrations due to joblessness can lead these youths seeking alternatives,” said Idris during an interview at Jamia Mosque on Friday.
The cleric said society should offer proper guidance to children as they grow up to avoid sourcing for knowledge on the internet.
“Our society has failed to offer proper guidance to children. They therefore depend on the internet to get information and this is where they meet the radicalised groups and lured them into joining their groups. It is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that the right information is passed onto the minors to protect them against manipulation by evil people,” he said.
He insisted that radicalisation should not be judged on the basis of religion because every youth is at risk of being absorbed in it.
“Radicalisation should not be squarely associated with religion because radicalised groups have no proper religion. It affects both Muslims and non-Muslims with equal measure. It is therefore the responsibility of society to ensure that our systems are adjusted to favour the young generation,” concluded Idris.