Over the past two decades, policies for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PVE and CVE, respectively) have emerged in response to the perceived shortcomings of security-focused counterterrorism efforts. Adherents of this dual strategy argue that violent extremism organizations cannot be countered by military means alone—rather that success requires weakening cycles of extremist radicalization and recruitment through a “whole of society,” development oriented approach, as well. The 2016 United Nations Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism called on member-states to develop “a national plan of action to prevent violent extremism which sets national priorities for addressing the local drivers of violent extremism and complements national counter-terrorism strategies.” Kenya was among the first countries to develop such a national plan, launching the National Strategy to Counter Violent Extremism (NSCVE) in September 2016.
