Othman Mujahidin during youth forum organized by KECOSCE in Mombasa on Wednesday. (Photo/Maxwell)
Political leaders from the six Coastal counties have been challenged to empower youth economically in a bid to deter them from joining terror groups among them the Al-shabab from Somalia.
A scholar and a Social and economic lecturer at Pwani University in Kilifi Othman Mujahidin said that most youth were joining terror networks because they were economic desperate.
While addressing a youth peace forum organized by a peace and security Non- governmental organisation Kenya Community Support Centre-KECOSCE in Mombasa on Wednesday, Othman said that youth at the Coast were suffering various economic setbacks and they embraced the option of joining terror networks and other criminal outfits so that they get a quick earning.
The Scholar said that the six county governments at the Coast should come up with various youth development programmes so that youth can earn a living and deter them from terrorism or criminal activities.
He said that the problem was ignored while it was slowly gaining momentum in 2011 but later it emerged that many youth were crossing over to Somalia after being lured that they would be employed and earn a living.
“Since we now know what the main driving factor is, we should not wait for the national government but quickly act on how we can make our youth economically stable,” he added.
He said that the recently launched fighting terrorism strategy in Mombasa was a major step in the right direction.
“However such strategies to fight terrorism and extremism among the youth should be fully implemented and our Coastal county governments support it,” he noted.
He appealed to the governors from all the six Coastal counties being Taita taveta, Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana river and Lamu to ensure that they do not ignore youth in their counties but include them in development matters and self reliance.
He said that with various youth funds among them Youth enterprise development fund and Uwezo fund national youth development programmes, youth should be guided on how they can benefit and embrace self employment.