The Role of Forgiveness in Countering Youth Radicalization into Violent Extremism in Eastleigh, Kenya

Abstract

Radicalization has endured as a grave contemporary threat to peace in the world, given the constant rising numbers of terrorist attacks. Youth are at risk of radicalization and recruitment to militant groupings that carry out diverse forms of extreme violence. The surge of youth radicalization into violent extremism across the globe has become a worrying trend. Despite all the efforts to counter radicalization among the youths, more are still being radicalized. This study sought to investigate the role of forgiveness in countering youth radicalization into violent extremism in Eastleigh, Kenya. This study adopted mixed methods sequential explanatory design, combining experimental, correlational and phenomenological research methods. This study was conducted in Nairobi County, Kamukunji Sub- County, Eastleigh suburb, in St Theresa’s Catholic Church and Riyadh Mosque, since Churches and mosques traditionally are the center for community activities and ideas. The study employed both probability and non-probability sampling methods. The sample size for the study was 222 respondents comprising of 212 youths and 10 key informants. The review found that there was weak, negative and insignificant correlation between self-forgiveness and extremism. The study concluded that the level of forgiveness among the respondents was above average. The study recommends that the Heartland Forgiveness adds to the known levels of forgiveness by virtue of its different elements that can be measured. Dispositional forgiveness is likely to be a method that make it possible for people to turn their focus away from unfavourable personal responses to rewarding dimensions of their lives. Therefore, the tendency to forgive, as gauged by Heartland Forgiveness scale contributes to the existing comprehension of significant personality distinctions Keywords: Forgiveness, Radicalization, Youth & Violent Extremism