Coloniality, modern subjectivities in Kenya and exclusion of African women in preventing violent extremism

Abstract

Cosmetic attention to contextual nuances has been a major obstacle in many programmes for preventing violent extremism (PVE) in Kenya. The study highlights how donor-funded interventions often disregard cultural values and local experience by posing a subtle resistance to learn from the knowledge of local actors. The non-recognition of contextual knowledge postures a gender problem, increasing chances for systemic exclusion of African women from the knowledge production system. The paper interrogates how modern subjectivities, entrenched in contemporary interventions, exude colonial legacies in PVE. Using decolonial theory and interviews with local practitioners, the study submits that many donor-funded PVE approaches risk pushing further the voice of indigenous African women to the periphery of knowledge production. The paper concludes that PVE interventions in the local context have an opportunity for reinforcing indigenous perspectives through a decisive decolonial strategy in the women peace and security agenda.

Disclosure statement

The author reports there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Samwel Odhiambo Oando

Samwel Oando is Adjunct Lecturer at the Africa International University (AIU) in Nairobi, Kenya. He holds PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies, from the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (NCPACS), University of Otago, New Zealand. He was an activist scholar of human rights, for about a decade, specifically advocating against gender-based violence and structural forms of discrimination. His research interest, now, focuses broadly on enhancing African voices in knowledge production, conflict transformation, peacebuilding, Countering Violent Extremism, and the crosscutting gender dynamics. His most recent publications are in Critical Terrorism Studies (CTS), Decoloniality, and Indigeneity. Samwel has served previously as the Chief Executive Officer at Peace and Development Network (PeaceNet-Kenya); Research Officer at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) Kenya, and was a part-time lecturer at the Institute of Gender Women and Development Studies, Egerton University, Kenya. Email: [email protected]