Al Shabaab militants during a drill. [Photo/nation.co.ke]
The problem of radicalisation has been cited by primary school headteachers as a serious threat to learning in the country.Shem Ndolo, the chairperson of the Kenya Primary School Heads Association has warned that radicalisation is rife in public schools and unless firm interventions are made the situation can only worsen.The concerns were also raised by the secretary-general Daniel Mavuta.''Radicalisation is rife in public schools especially in the Coast counties, Garissa, and Isiolo. The government should intervene to prevent the situation from getting worse. Guidance and counseling programmes need to be strengthened.'' Mr. Mavuta.Kepsha has recommended the deployment of the National Intelligence Service officers into schools that are at greatest risk of radicalisation.Kenya has been grappling with the problem of terrorism for a very long time. Terrorists have been changing their strategy amid mounting military pressure on them.Part of their mutating strategy has been to radicalise impressionable kids who are more likely to fall for their twisted ideologies.
The country's military is part of the AMISOM forces that have been battling the Al Shabaab terrorist organisation in Somalia.
Partners like the United States are also involved, though in an advisory and technical capacity.