Garissa Deputy County Secretary Abdirashid Hussein led other leaders from Garissa County in affirming their resolve in fight against terrorism on Tuesday.
He said Garissa County government is committed in the fight against violent extremism for the sake of peaceful coexistence.
Hussein said there is need to address radicalization adding that Garissa is among counties in the region that have suffered hugely due to attacks by Somalia-based terror group, Al-Shabaab.
Hussein said many youths from the region are being lured into joining militia groups, adding that more needs to be done to address radicalization.
“It is paramount to address radicalization to avoid many youth falling into the hands of terror groups like Al-Shabbab,” said Hussein as quoted by Garissa County Government Press Unit on Facebook.
Hussein was speaking on Tuesday during the County Engagement forum - a stakeholders forum for actors of peace, security and counter-violent extremism (CVE) held at Garissa Agriculture Training Centre.
The deputy county secretary lauded support and participation by various stakeholders in the war against violent extremism in Northern Kenya.
Hussein said the stakeholders have supported the county government’s 5-year County Action Plan on Countering Violent Extremism that was launched last year by Garissa Governor Ali Bunow Korane.
“Despite considerable investments and recent improvements in the security sector that have resulted in reduction in the number of terror attacks, some of the actions by Kenya’s frontline security forces often contribute to aggravating sympathy for radical groups,” he added.
County Commissioner Meru Mwangi and representatives from NDMA, PGI, Womankind Kenya, KESHO Alliance, USAID, county and national government officials and human rights activists were present during the forum.