The role of women in violent extremism in Kenya

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the diverse and often indirect roles women play in violent extremist organisations in Kenya, specifically al-Shabaab. Based on 108 interviews, it argues that women provide an 'invisible infrastructure' of support, acting as recruiters, spies, and facilitators, while direct perpetration of violence remains limited. The document identifies a complex interplay of drivers for women's involvement, including personal relationships, economic hardship, government neglect, and the influence of radical religious teachings.

• Evidence of women acting as direct perpetrators of violent extremist acts in Kenya is limited, with many respondents viewing violent extremism as 'mambo ya vijana' (issues of male youth). While some government officials report women being trained as suicide bombers in Somalia, others note that no women have been convicted on terror-related charges in Kenya.
• Women primarily serve in non-combative or indirect roles, creating an 'invisible infrastructure' for al-Shabaab. These roles include recruiting youths through familial ties or false promises of jobs, acting as intelligence gatherers and spies (some reportedly within the Amniyat intelligence wing), and providing logistical support such as shelter, food, financial transactions, and medical care in the Dadaab refugee camp.
• Personal relationships are a primary driver for women's involvement. Many women join al-Shabaab to follow husbands or partners to Somalia, while others are coerced through blackmail, intimidation, or kidnapping by known associates. Some women are also drawn in to support male family members who have already joined.
• Economic distress and high youth unemployment in regions like the Coast, Majengo, Garissa, and Kwale make women and their families vulnerable to recruitment. Al-Shabaab exploits poverty by promising money and jobs. Additionally, women often become the sole breadwinners when male relatives join extremist groups, further trapping them in poverty and potentially driving them to join the group to avoid total destitution.
• Governance failures and perceived marginalisation contribute to radicalisation. Issues include the denial of national identity documents for those who look Somali in Lamu, a lack of investment in social services in affected areas, and police brutality or extra-judicial killings of loved ones, which can motivate women to seek revenge.
• Radical religious teachings in mosques and madrassas, particularly in Majengo and the Coastal region, are used to mislead youth. Unscrupulous teachers may use distorted narratives or misinterpret the Koran. Some clerics may also create economic dependency by paying school fees for children whose fathers joined al-Shabaab.

APA

Ndung’u, I., & Salifu, U. (2017). The role of women in violent extremism in Kenya. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ear12.pdf

Chicago

Ndung’u, Irene, and Uyo Salifu. The role of women in violent extremism in Kenya. Institute for Security Studies, 2017. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ear12.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ndung’u |first1=Irene |last2=Salifu |first2=Uyo |title=The role of women in violent extremism in Kenya |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=May 2017 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ear12.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ndungu2017role, author = {Ndung’u, Irene and Salifu, Uyo}, title = {{The role of women in violent extremism in Kenya}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2017}, month = may, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ear12.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }