Parents of radicalized youths in Kenya have been urged by the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) to convince their radicalized children to surrender and take advantage of the 10-day Amnesty period given by the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta.
The council offered to be an intermediary between the youths and the government to ease the process before handing them over to the authorities.
Radicalization of youth especially young Muslims is on the upward trend. This is a result of the high rate of unemployment, increased time on social media platforms and general vulnerability.
The council also took to condemn the mainstream Muslims who are spreading propaganda and executing attacks against the Christians. They promised to undertake a three-month programme in the very vulnerable areas like Kwale, Kilifi Lamu, Tana River, Taita Taveta and Mombasa to battle radicalization.
Parents should be very vigilante and pay close attention to their children especially teenagers as they are at the highest risk of being radicalized. Encouraging the youth to spend less time on the internet that has now become a very power recruitment avenue for the terrorist organizations.
Parents of radicalized youths should be on the forefront both in Kenya and globally in asking them to surrender in order to be able to deal with the Islamists.
