The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has intensified efforts to curb violent extremism in the Western region unveiling a comprehensive framework aimed at dismantling radicalization networks and strengthening community resilience against terror influences.

Speaking to the press in Bungoma on Thursday during a multi-stakeholder forum, Sangale Nchololoi, deputy chief liaison officer for prevention and resilience director at the NCTC said the agency’s visit to the region is anchored on the implementation of the National strategy for prevention and countering violent extremism.

He explained that the strategy emphasizes grassroots engagement through the establishment of county engagement forums which are designed to act as the first line of defense against radicalization.

“The structures that are cascaded into the counties are called county engagement forums and our work in this Western region is to ensure that we put those structures in place so that communities are able to initiate activities that help reduce or even eliminate radicalization,” Nchololoi said.

He noted that the initiative builds on ongoing prevention programs that the agency has been implementing since 2016 across several counties.

According to him, the selection of Western Kenya, including Bungoma, was informed by intelligence reports indicating a growing risk of radicalization in the region.

“Bungoma is one of the counties that have been selected because intelligence reports show that radicalization is beginning to take root in parts of Western region. We are here to ensure that it is contained before it escalates,” he added.

Nchololoi stressed that public awareness remains a key pillar in preventing violent extremism, noting that many communities are often unaware of how radicalization manifests and spreads.

“To effectively prevent radicalization we must ensure that communities are well informed and vigilant. That is why we are engaging both state and non-state actors,” he said.

The multi- sectoral approach adopted by the NCTC brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including county commissioners and their deputies, religious leaders, youth representatives, persons living with disabilities (PWDs), education officials and boda boda operators.

These groups are being trained as Trainers of Trainers (ToTs), equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to sensitize communities and identify early warning signs of radicalization.

“We bring all these stakeholders together so that they can be empowered as trainers who will go back to their communities and educate others on how to recognize and resist radical influences,” Nchololoi explained.

He emphasized that young people remain the most vulnerable group to extremist recruitment, largely due to their impressionable nature and exposure to online propaganda.

“As part of our strategy, we are deliberately involving student leaders from universities and other learning institutions because they are among those most at risk. Radicalization can begin at a very early age, sometimes as young as five years old and by the time it is detected, the individual may already be deeply indoctrinated,” he said.

Nchololoi underscored the importance of integrating counter-radicalization efforts within the education system, from Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) to higher learning institutions as well as religious learning centers such as Sunday schools and madrasas.

To counter this, the NCTC is prioritizing capacity-building programs that focus on enhancing critical thinking, digital literacy and resilience among young people.

These programs aim to empower youth to question extremist narratives, resist manipulation and make informed decisions.

“We are equipping young people with the ability to think critically to question what they are told and to reject messages that promote violence and division,” Nchololoi said.

Bungoma South deputy county commissioner Geoffrey Githinji applauded NCTC for picking Bungoma for the implementation of the National strategy to prevent and counter violent extremism 2025-2029 project courtesy of Kenya- EA partnership.