.

@Swenani, please provide practical and actionable ways of this engagement. By practical I mean when faced with an immediate and real threat to property, limb and life, do you suggest the said youths be coyed and be coddled to give up the weapons?

From a tactical level, you must appreciate that the only approach is elimination of the threat by countering it with the same or more force than they can muster. Unless they are fearful of the legitimate state violence, there can be no deal it would be either their way (they have it with the mosques) or the civilised way. Why didn't the "entire" communities in Murang'a and Kirinyaga become radicalized after Mungiki were neutralized the hard way? Are all Pokots radicalized by the KDF operation? SLDF?

No X-mas windfall for local businesses this year at the coast.

@Alphdoti, how is intelligence to be used/acted upon? At some point action is bound to be taken. When this happens ohhh "Muslims are targeted". I have noticed the silence of the political leadership in Mombasa on this one, going forward if they desist from sympathizing with the radicals then we'll rid the region of this threatening menace.

Ukiwa serious unabore,hio sgnature poa! terrorism wachia kimaiyo na huyo jamaa mwingine they know no better

One cannot change the mind of a terrorist. Remember this radicalisation of a mind. Only MO1 or Michuki would ve dealt with this monster decisively...Hii maneno ya democracy, sijui extrajudicial what, sijui which law, sijui which right...are languages that will never eliminate the vice.

After dealing with the terrorist and terrorist sympathizers decisively, you can now engage the other population on how to live harmoniously.

@Mwasi well said. Is this so difficult for people to understand?

@rahatupu, this is exactly the kind of talk or attitude that has excalated the problem further. We were better off sometimes back, but people kept talking with arrogance and it has not reduced the situation.

I have said many, many times before that let us turn everybody into partners in the war on terror. Let us also come to our senses and know that the war on terror is NOT WAR ON ISLAM or ON MUSLIMS.

I say this because there are many of us here who want to see the war on terror but have not overcome their suspicion and mistrust of Muslims. They need to change their perception and turn Muslims into Partners in the war on terror.

This is the simplest solution for the long term result.