‘Mixing religious logics in peacebuilding’: An Integrated interfaith approach to counter-violent extremism in Kenya

Abstract

International discourses on counter-violent extremism (CVE) have been characterised by ‘liberal notions’ that view religion as problematic in addressing global peace and security. In the liberalisation of conflict, scholars have underestimated the potential of religion and interreligious actors as ‘viable agents to conflict transformation’ particularly in Kenya’s CVE architecture that is more militaristic in approach. This essentially leaves little space for nonstate actors’ engagement, including interfaith actors in peacebuilding and prevention of violent extremism (VE). Using grounded theory and adopting an integrated but multidimensional approach, this article seeks to systematically explore the interfaith initiatives (IFI) to VE in the Kenyan context.

Contribution: The article narrows down to the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics of Kenya (CICC-K) as an empirical case to understand how the integration of belief-oriented approaches (religious knowledge, ideas, beliefs, values and attitudes) can help in the prevention of VE both at the local and national levels. This is of significance considering that different interfaith groups have increased their social engagement in peacebuilding but with less collaboration with the state, which leads eventually to less impact on CVE and deradicalisation.