Nyeri, Kenya – The Nyeri County Engagement Forum, in collaboration with the Foundation for Dialogue (FFD) and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), has initiated a training program to equip 160 community members and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) with Psychological First Aid skills. This initiative is part of the National Strategy on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and focuses on four high-risk Sub-Counties identified for their vulnerability to radicalization and past terror attacks.

According to Kenya News Agency, director of FFD, the goal is to develop a network of psychological first-aiders capable of providing immediate support or linking affected individuals to assistance in the aftermath of an incident. The target audience for this training includes CHPs, Nyumba Kumi elders, community policing members, church leaders, counselors from community-based organizations, and selected chiefs and their assistants.

This marks the first time trauma therapy is being employed as an intervention in the National Strategy on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism. Previously, the focus was primarily on economic empowerment to prevent youth radicalization. The NCTC has also been involved in the rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees and individuals who have been radicalized.

Dr. Oscar Githua, a Forensic Psychologist specializing in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, emphasized the importance of this training in building resilience against violent extremism. He highlighted that this approach addresses not only the psychological trauma and mental health issues arising from terror attacks among survivors and their families but also serves as a preventive mechanism to bolster community psychosocial support.

Nyeri County, which has experienced the impact of previous terror attacks, has developed guidelines for the psychosocial support program. These guidelines will be used as a benchmark when the program is extended next year to other counties, including Lamu, Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Garissa, Isiolo, Uasin Gishu, and Kisumu.