How well do you know your neighbour? Can you tell me what they do, their routines or activities, or when they became part of your community? I may press you further. Do you know where they come from, and is anyone linked to them? Or what do they stand up for? One would argue that this might be an overreach or being too nosy.
However, the truth and reality of our times are that knowing that person and that person knowing another, or simply the concept of community policing (nyumba kumi), is now vital to the very existence and security of our society, even though it has not been fully adopted or strengthened in the fight against terrorism.
In hindsight, I think some of the terror attacks in Kenya could have been prevented or thwarted before they happened if there had been constant communication and collaboration between the community and the security agencies.
The recent isolated killings of around 10 people by suspected Al Shabaab militants, among them elite unit security officers and the dawn attack on the quarry workers in Burabor, Mandera County, and the ambush on the elite unit in Boni Forest, shows that the threat of terrorism still exists in border counties.
One may argue that enhancing ‘Nyumba Kumi’ as a security concept would lead to social isolation, where a person outside the circles cannot live among the people when his or her life is also in danger of being pursued by State agencies.
Nevertheless, Kenya needs to look at the brighter side of it, with legally endorsed limits and guidelines that will ensure that we not only eradicate terrorism but also uphold human rights. The Nyumba Kumi exists in Tanzania and Rwanda (imidugudu) and has so far worked well in taming terrorism, among other ills.
Community policing is a key pillar of Kenya’s counter-terrorism strategy as it underscores the collaboration between the police, local communities, religious leaders, the youth, civil societies among other key stakeholders to build community resilience and prevent violent extremism amongst other societal vices.
This approach focuses on problem-solving, which is essentially identifying the root causes of recruitment and radicalisation with a keen interest in cultural sensitivity to give a deeper understanding and perspective of the local cultures and religious practices.
Community policing is, in essence, a people-centric strategy in which security agencies and the citizenry engage to identify and solve security concerns, prevent crime, and build community trust and intelligence sharing.
In Kenya, counter-terrorism efforts intensified after the 2013 Westgate Mall Attack and Nyumba Kumi initiative has over the years become an effective community policing model to curb general crime and also prevent/counter violent extremism. This approach has proven to be very effective as in the case of Kisauni community-based policing committees between 2016 and 2019 where the security agencies worked with local mosques, youth groups to address radicalisation, drug use and recruitment into criminal gangs.
The County Government of Mombasa also partnered with religious leaders and Nyumba Kumi elders to identify at-risk youth. Deradicalisation programmes, vocational training and counselling were also introduced and community members anonymously reported suspected recruiters via toll-free numbers and SMS. This led to a significant reduction in recruitment into violent extremism, prevention of attacks and repairing the delicate relationship and the trust deficit between the community and the security agencies.
The success of Nyumba Kumi initiative cannot be gainsaid, especially because it has proven to be an effective and efficient early warning system, built and enhanced trust between wananchi and the security agencies, has facilitated youth engagement and reintegration as well as disrupting radicalisation. Institutionalising of multi-agency cooperation and confidentiality of feedback loops and enhanced inclusivity of women and youth in community vigilance will provide even greater success.
By Gilbert Njoroge