University students’ perceived influence of selected family and internet access factors on vulnerability to radicalisation in Kenya: implications for counselling

Abstract

The threat and likelihood of radicalisation and recruitment into violent extremist groups has increased in Kenya and intemationally. Those at risk of being radicalised need to be identified and positive alternatives to extremism promoted. In Kenya, the government has promoted security-oriented interventions to fight radicalisation and terrorism over the softer approach called Countering Violent Extremism (CVE). The concern is the provision of long- term prevention-oriented interventions that would involve counselling individuals who are vulnerable. The students in public universities are vulnerable to radicalisation because there is maximum exchange of ideas in the university unlike the rigid ideologies of extremist groups. The family as the first socialization agent of an individual can contribute to vulnerability to radicalisation. Internet access too could make students vulnerable because it is a major platform for information exchange globally. This study focused on investigating university students’ perception on the influence of selected family and internet access factors on vulnerability to radicalisation in Kenya and implications for counselling. The mixed method convergent parallel research design was used. The target population comprised all the 443,783 students enrolled in 31 accredited universities, 120 student counsellors and 960 peer counsellors. Purposive sampling technique was used to select two public universities in Kenya. Determination of sample sizes were done using Yamane’s formula and proportional sampling employed. The study sample size comprised of 644 respondents as follows: 216 students from University A; 184 students from University B; 26 student counsellors and 218 peer counsellors from the two public universities. Questionnaires, interview schedules and focus group discussions were used to collect data from the university students, student counsellors and peer counsellors, respectively. A Cronbach alpha value of 0.79 was derived from data collected in a pilot evaluation of the student questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 and QSR NVivo 12 for Windows aided in data analysis. The study found that family type had insignificant influence on vulnerability to radicalisation. The parenting styles, religious beliefs, social economic status and internet access factors all had significant association between the variables and vulnerability to radicalisation. The results of this study may be beneficial to university counsellors, students, institutions of higher learning and the government in prevention of radicalisation. The findings also form a frame of reference for further research and formulation of counter radicalisation and violent extremism policies. The study recommended that counselling needs to be used and strengthened to prevent