Browsing by Author "HAFSA ALI IBRAHIM"

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    GENDERED RADICALIZATION: EXAMINING THE INVOLVEMENT OF RADICALIZED MUSLIM WOMEN IN AL-SHABAAB’S VIOLENT EXTREMISM IN MANDERA COUNTY, KENYA
    (Egerton University, 2026-05) HAFSA ALI IBRAHIM
    The involvement of women in terrorist activities in Kenya has increased despite intensified soft and hard counterterrorism interventions. Across groups such as Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram, women have emerged as frontline combatants in roles previously dominated by men. This challenges the traditional perception of women solely as peacebuilders, victims, or homemakers. Kenya’s counterterrorism strategies and policies, developed at national, county, and grassroots levels, have largely focused on masculine understandings of violent extremism, neglecting women’s agency and active participation. While numerous reports exist on women and terrorism in Kenya, little research has examined the agency of Kenyan Muslim women, particularly in Mandera County. This study critically analyses the drivers of Muslim women’s involvement in Al-Shabaab, their agency, and the pathways through which they are recruited and engaged in violent extremism. Using a Mixed Methods Phenomenological Research (MMPR) design, the study was conducted in Mandera County with 64 participants, including civil society leaders, victims of terror, policymakers, security agents, and female returnees. Data was collected through key informant interviews and focus group discussions, analysed thematically using MAXQDA software, and interpreted through an intersectional lens. The findings revealed that women’s participation stems from personal aspirations, grievances, and rational choices, emphasizing the need to integrate gender perspectives into counterterrorism frameworks. Women play both combatant and non-combatant roles, ranging from suicide bombing, smuggling, and combat support to recruitment, fundraising, intelligence gathering, and domestic tasks. The study recommends adopting a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach that includes women in peace and security decision-making and recognizes them as key assets in prevention, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs. Ultimately, this research contributes to new knowledge on female agency in terrorism and informs more inclusive counterterrorism policies in Kenya.